TWO NEW LINERS PROPOSED

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21904, 3 October 1936, Page 25

TWO NEW LINERS PROPOSED

PLANS FOB PACIFIC

SERVICE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST TRADE IfRSSS ASSOCIATION TBLEOSAI I.) AUCKLAND, October 1 A powerful overseas syndicate is considering the construction of two fast passenger vessels of approximately 20.000 tons each for the Syd-ney-Auckland-Los Angeles or Sydney-Auckland-Vancouvar service. This was revealed by Mr Brendan Dowling, a Sydney business man, who is returning f r om England and America by the Mariposa, As the representative of an Australian group Interested ih the project and desirous of fostering the tourist trade between the United States and Australia and New Zealand. Mr Dowling has been conferring with the syndicate while abroad. While it would be some months before the final decision was made, Mr Dowling said that actually plans and specifications of the vessels had been prepared end details of the organisation were now being discussed. It was hoped to shorten travelling time across the Pacific, and, with that end in view, the vessels would have an average speed of at least 24 knots. They would be built especially to suit tropical conditions and would provide every facility for comfort and convemcncc* “Rapid strides have been made m transport since my last visit overseas about a year ago,” Mr Dowling said. “The tendency is for greater speeds than those at present attained. Although the Queen Mary has made a record crossing of the Atlantic, it Is anticipated that that record will be broken, and that passengers embarking at Wednesday midday from Southampton, will be landed ih New York the following Sunday evening. Faster Trains “Railways in the United States Lave been speeded up and it is now possible to cross the continent in 56J hours’ running time," Mr Dowling added. “These improvements already are having their effect on the trend of tourist traffic, and it is noticeable that people domiciled on the west coast of America are travelling in greater numbers to the east coast Of the continent and to Europe. “Because of the proximity of such potential tourist trade and of improvements in transport generally, it is of vital importance to New Zealand and Australia that the shipping services available in the Pacific should be In keeping with the most modem of international services.” Mr Dowling said that was the type of service it was hoped to provide. On several occasions during the year, particularly fast runs might be arranged. “Should the Empire Governments be contemplating the granting of subsidies," Mr Dowling concluded, “an opportunity should be given to the interested parties to submit particulars of the services wey could render.”