DUCHESS LINERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 139, 14 June 1932, Page 3

DUCHESS LINERS.

COMING TO AUCKLAND? UNCONFIRMED REPORT. * OTTAWA'S RESULTS AWAITED. Although official confirmation is lacking, a rumour that one or two of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company's Duchess liners will enter the Vancouver-Auckland-Sydney service receives a certain amount of credence in local shipping circles. The rumour was current amongst passengers who arrived by the Aorangi from Canada on Sunday. The depression is seriously affecting the passenger trade between America and England, despite lower fares, and it is considered that the present is an opportune time for a transference of some of the palatial liners employed in the trans-Atlantic run to the Pacific. It is generally understood in well-informed quarters that nothing definite will he decided until after the Ottawa Conference, where shipping in the Pacific will be an important subject of discussion, especially in respect to foreign competition with British ships in intercolonial services. Rumours were in circulation some time ago that the Aorangi was to be temporarily replaced in the trans-Pacific service by one of the Canadian Pacific " Empress" liners, while she was overhauled and reconstructed. The intention was to make her faster and give her more attractive passenger accommodation. It was then suggested that the Monowai, which was recently purchased from the P. and 0. Line to replace the Tahiti in the San Francisco-Wellington-Syclney service, would change over with the Niagara, to run in conjunction with the "Empress" liner, as the Monowai is faster than either the Niagara or Aorangi. The Duchess of Bedford is one of four fast sister ships all launched in 1928. Each is of 20,000 tons gross register, 30,000 tons displacement, with a length of 000 ft. These vessels burn oil fuel, and arc constructed with a cruiser stern. They were built by the Canadian Pacific Co. for trans-Atlantic service in tlie summer anrt cruising in the winter. They all have luxurious passenger accommodation. In addition to the Duchess of Bedford there are the Duchess of Atlioll, Duchess of Richmond and Duchess of York. All sail from Montreal. The Canadian Pacific Railway Co. owns the "Empress" line of passenger vessels. They consist of the Empress of Britain, 42,500 tons; Empress of Australia, 21,850 tons, and Empress of France, 18,450 tons. The Empress of Britain, which was launched in June. 1930, made her maiden voyage in May of last year. She is the last word in passenger vessels running out of Canada. Her displacement is 53,750 tons, and her length 75Sft. She has more space per individual passenger than any other liner afloat. In her initial world cruise she visited 23 countries and called at 81 ports in 129 days. She crossed to Europe in five days. All the Empress liners have luxurious passenger accommodation. The Canadian Pacific Railway Co. also owns the "Mont" line of steamships— Montcalm, Montclare and Montrose — each of 10,400 tons; the Melita and Minnedosa, each of 15,200 tons, and the Metagama, 12,400 tons.