NEW TASMAN LINER

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 301, 16 September 1936, Page 11

NEW TASMAN LINER

Luncheon on Board the Awatea

NOTABLE GATHERING

Significance of the Ship

Success to the Awatea was the keynote of a gathering held on board the Union Steam Ship Company’s new trans-Tasman express liner yesterday, when some 250 guests, including His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Galway, and several members of the Government, were entertained at luncheon by the directors of the company. Those present included representatives of banking, financial, mercantile, legal, shipping, newspaper and other Interests.

The guests were received on board by Mr. N. S. Falla, chairman and managing director of the Union Company, his co-directors, and Captain A, H. Davey, commander of the Awatea. Those at the official table with Lord Galway and Mr. Falla were the Acting-Chief Justice (Sir John Reed), the Hon. W. Nash, Minister of Finance, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr. D. J. McGowan, chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. T. 0. A. Hislop, Mayor of Wellington, and Mr. G. W. Ritchie. Apologies for inability to be present were received from the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, Hon. P. Fraser, Hon. W. E. Parry, Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., Sir Charles Statham, M.L.C., and Sir James Allen, M.L.C.

After the toast of “The King’’ had been honoured, Mr. Falla said it gave him great pleasure, on behalf of the board of directors of the company they had the honour to represent, to welcome so large a gathering and they were particularly grateful to His Excellency for honouring them with his presence. A Notable Ship. “It is our privilege to present to the public in New Zaland and Australia this very fine vessel for their patronage,” said Mr. Falla. “Her building followed immediately on the pronouncement of the policy of safeguarding British shipping made by both Governments in September, 1934, and for our part you now see the finished product of a first-rate British shipyard. “A primary result of the introduction of the Awatea will be to draw into even closer union the people of New Zealand and Australia, countries whose destinies are so closely interwoven, and it is our hope and belief that in the process she will enjoy full passenger lists, to say nothing of the cargo she has more than ample room to carry. She will certainly require all the revenue she can earn.

“A reference to ‘Lloyd’s Register’ discloses this interesting and even arresting fact—that of existing oceangoing vessels in excess of 10,000 tons with a speed of 22 knots or over there are only six owned in the British Empire, and that of these six one is the Awatea. We take pardonable pride in having brought to our country a ship of this distinction as New Zealand’s latest contribution to the British Mercantile Marine. Of course, it must not be. supposed that the Awatea will be endeavouring each voyage to establish new records. There is the very important consideration of economical fuel consumption, and what is mainly desirable is merely to fulfil timetable requirements; but her only British superiors in speed, excluding cross-Channel vessels, will be the Empress of Britain an<j the Queen Mary. In radio-tele-phony and electrical equipment she is equal to anything afloat. “If we extend the list to vessels of this speed of over 6000 tons, we find a total' of 10 in the British Empire, and of these, two, including the Rangatira, are in New Zealand, which is a notable proportion. If we compare this total of 10 British ships with those of foreign countries we discover the latter to total 15, of which the United States have seven, and France. Italy and Germany the remainder. “Bearing in mind the vital importance of merchant shipping to a maritime Empire one may well suggest that the remedy for this inequality lies with the people of the British Commonwealth of Nations. I am glad to say the matter is on its proper plane so far as the Pacific is concerned, before the Imperial Shipping Committee, which has lately studied it and which will no doubt soon report on this question, with its obvious needs in this ocean and its fine possibilities of Imperial partnerships.” “Success to the Awatea.” Proposing “Success to the Awatea,” his Excellency said Mr. Falla’s reference to the exact status of the Awatea in the shipping world, especially in comparison with the most up-to-date ships afloat, was very illuminating and gave New Zealanders and Australians —and, indeed, the people of all countries—an opportunity of judging how necessary and important it was, in the opinion of the Union Steam Ship Company, that New Zealand and Australia should be linked by the best possible means. The placing in the trans-Tas-man service of such a ship as the Awatea, with all the comforts of the best hotels, undoubtedly would tend to bring New Zealand and Australia closer together. When the people of Australia saw the beauty and comfort of the Awatea it should induce them to come in increasing numbers to see the many beauties of New Zealand and to enjoy the hospitality of its very hospitable people. The Tourist Department was showing the greatest energy in making more accessible the many beauty spots of this beautiful country. A case in point was the reading access to Milford Sound. A Beautiful Ship. His Excellency said it was wonderful to know that in Wellington to-day they had in the Awatea the most up-to-date and most luxurious ship it was possible to conceive. He believed the Awatea compared in beauty, even if she did not excel, with the equipment of that great and very well-known ship, the Queen Mary. It would seem impos-' sible to improve upon the beauty of the Awatea, which was enhanced by the skilful use of lovely woodwork. He thought the beauty of woodwork far greater than that of gilding and other ornamentation. He congratulated the builders of the ship on their wonderful product and the directors of the Union Company on their foresight in acquiring such a magnificent vessel She was an indication that the company had the idea of progress and development, and was determined to do its utmost to ensure the comfort of travellers. The name Awatea—the Eye of the Dawn—was a significant and appropriate selection.

He was sure they all hoped that the Awatea would usher in a new and successful era in the history of British shipping in the Pacific, and that good fortune would ever travel with her. In proposing “Success to the Awatea,” he coupled with the toast her very popular commander, Captain A. H. Davey, and his officers and crew. (Applause.) Captain Davey’s Pride. Replying, ’Captain Davey said that as a rule it was anathema for a sailor to have to get up and make a speech. He would far sooner take his ship out in a gale of wind. But on this occasion his task was made easier because of the great interest his Excellency had shown in the Awatea and, second, because of the ship herself. Naturally he was a very proud man to be in command of such a magnificent ship. He saw around him men occupying exalted positions in politics, banking, finance and other walks of life, but he very much doubted that he would like to change places with any of them. (Applause. ) Captain Davey said he thought a seagoing career the finest life there was. His father had started him in life in an insurance office, but he was quickly “fired” as ' being, the “world’s worst junior clerk.” And so he went to»sea. (Laughter.) As a youngster he had always had a great idea of joining the Union Company’s service. He had done so in January, 1904, and now he had completed over a quarter of a century in command. “You ought to have seen some of the ships of which I have had command. But a sailor always takes pride in his ship and I was proud of them.”

It had always been his ambition to have command of a fine, big fullpowered ship such as the Awatea. Much as he had loved the old ships, he was afraid that those old sweethearts had passed into the limbo. He had been sent to England, and then came the dawn—the Awatea, the “Eye of the Dawn.” This was the ship. The Awatea was a British ship, built by British workmen of British material. She was all-British-manned, the majority of the crew, including himself, being New Zealanders. (Applause.) Service and Safety.

In the old days, said Captain Davey, the letters s.s. before the name of a ship meant “screw steamer.” In the case of the Awatea the first S stood for service and the second S for safety. In. the Awatea the Union Company had spared nothing in providing everything conceivable for the comfort of the passengers, and it was not the intention to sacrifice comfort for speed. As to safety, the same remark applied. Ships were growing ever larger and more expensive and the Awatea when full would carry 800 persons, including the crew. Safety was the great thing and everything possible had been fitted, and in her running everything would be done to make her a safe ship. Twothirds of his 25 years in command had been in passenger ships, and never once had he had one word from the company as to why he had been late. They had never interfered with him in any way in the running of his ship, which devolved entirely upon the master. The safety of the ship was placed ahead of everything else. The managing director of the company had pointed out that in the running of the Awatea the comfort of the passengers was more essential than the maintaining of a schedule, and this, he knew, had been the policy of the Union Company ever since he had been with it. (Applause.) After the luncheon most of the guests spent a considerable time inspecting the ship and admiring the beauty and completeness of her appointments.