A BIG CONTRACT

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 73, 30 March 1929, Page 6

A BIG CONTRACT

FEEDING A LINER

HOTEL AND STOREHOUSE

A frequently used figure of speech terms an overseas liner a floating hotel, and as far as it goes the metaphor is appropriate—within its limits. It carries with it the desired impression of tho comfortable accommodation of a large number- of guests, who can eat and sleep in safety and comfort and enjoy the thousand and one amenities provided for tho travelling public just as if all were being done in the heart of a big city, but something more is needed. It would probably be difficult to find a city building which would combine the essentials of the modern liner, disregarding, of course, the transportation aspect. It is necessary to consider a building which embraces hotel accommodation for persons of varying means, whom, without any assistance from outside, it must be prepared to cater for for the best part of six weeks. A storeroom including a refrigerator is also necessary to keep dainty food fresh for the tables. In addition to the ordinary kitchen a bakery is required. A laundry is a. necessity or, failing that, a linen press of sufficient dimensions to hold a supply to last over the period. Nor are the essentials quoted a complete list. One has only to remember what men and women are accustomed to in their shore life to form an idea of what the ship must carry.

The New Zealand Shipping Company 's new motor-liner Eangitiki,' which arrived here from Southampton on Wednesday night, is typical of the modern cargo-passenger liner,,and it is interesting to note the provision made for "eating and sleeping" the 420 odd souls she carried on her voyage out. Owing to the short time available while on her first'visit to Wellington—she sailed on Thursday afternoon for Lyttelton— everything was in a bustle on board, and when a "Post" reporter called on the steward-in-eharge, Mr. 6. W. Fraser, the man who contributes so much towards a successful voyage was probably the busiest person on board. Some of the figures given by Mr. Frascr may act as an eye-opener to the magnitude of tho contract involved in commissioning sucli a ship. It must be pointed out, moreover, that the Kangitiki was provisioned only for the voyage out from Home, and was in addition carrying a comparatively small complement of passengers, so that the figures given are not so large as they would be if they covered the stores laid in in New Zealand for tho return trip to the Old Country and back, as ia usual with tho Shipping Company's vessels. _ In spite of the fact that the Rangitiki took on'the food for her maiden voyage while in England, this did not prevent her being stocked largely with New Zealand produce,, and all of the mutton, beef, butter, and cheese included in her 40 tons of stores had already been once over the courso it was again partially, at least, to cover. There was one part-of the larder which was of purely British extraction, and that was tho poultry, £1200 worth of which was taken on board to meet the requirements for both the outward and inward voyages, suitablo game being unprocurable at this end. As tho vessel will be docked on her return Home, only sufficient stores aro being taken on. board for the one voyage, but even so about £4000 will be spent in replenishing the. larder. In tho ordinary course of events thn figure would bo nearer £0000.

Tho preparation of the food for the tables is no light matter, and a, staff of eighteen cooks is kept busy in the exceedingly well-appointed kitchen, where all the latest aids to the culinary art are to be found. The heat for the cooking is supplied by Diesel oil. Here all the bread and cakes consumed on the trip are also prepared. The tableware is a formidable' item in itself, about £4000 being spent in this direction.

AVith very little to do and a lot of timo on t.lieir hands, passengers seem to develop a knack of being almost perpetually hungry, and what with supplying early morning tea, breakfast, beeftea or ice-creams, luncheon; tea and biscuits, and dinner at different times of tho day, in addition to doing their other workj the. complement of 127 stewards is kept on the move. The stewards are accommodated in excellent quarters, which arc complete with every conceivable convenience.

The Eaugitiki includes a completelyequipped laundry, but it has yet to be brought into use. With the staff that would be necessary it ia thought that unless the passenger aoeornmodation is fully occupied, the expense of running the laundry would bo unjustified. In dispensing with the,.laundry it wat necessary to make some other provision for ensuring the cleanliness of the lincu and a sufficient supply, comprising some 40,000 pieces, was brought to enable the necessary frequent and rugular changes to be made.