THE AWATEA

Evening Post, Issue 66, 15 September 1936, Page 11

THE AWATEA

LUNCHEON ON BOARD

SOME INTERESTING FACTS

SUCCESS TOASTED

The Union Steam Ship Company's splendid new trans-Tasman express liner Awatea, which has been in port since September 3, is leaving for Auckland and Sydney tonight. Today there was a big luncheon party aboard the ship. The directors of the company entertained his Excellency the Gover-nor-General, Lord Galway, members of the Government, the Wellington Harbour Board, executive officers of State Departments, and others. Altogether the company issued 250 invitations, most of, which, it seemed, had been accepted. The guests were received by Colonel N. S. Falla, chairman and managing, director of the company,; his co-directors, and the commander of the Awatea, Captain A. H. Davey. ' ■ Those at the main table with Lord Galway and Colonel Falla were the Acting Chief Justice (Sir John Reed), the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Mr. G. E. Ritchie, Mr. D. J. McGowan (chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board), the Hon. W. Nash, and the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop). Apologies for their inability to be present were received from the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon.' M..J. Savage), the Rt. Hon. G. W.- Forbes, the Hon. P. Fraser, the Hon.r W. E. Parry, the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C.. Sir Charles Statham, and theHoh. Sir James Allen, M.L.C. •:.-■■ : . ' : ■ ■

Addressing the assemblage after the loyal toast had been honoured, Colonel N. S. Falla, chairman and managing director of the' Union Steam Ship Co., expressed pleasure at the large number who had accepted the company's, invitation to be present and said they were : all particularly grateful to his Excellency for honouring the gathering with his presence. "It is our privilege to present to the public in New Zealand and Australia this very fine vessel'for their patronage," continued Colonel Falla. "Her building followed immediately on the pronouncement of 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 New Zealand and Australia, countries whose des-. times 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 DISTINCTION. "A reference to Lloyd's Register discloses this interesting and even arresting fact: That of existing ocean-going vessels' in excess of 10,000 tons with a speed of 22 Knots or over there are only six pwned 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 willtbe endeavouring each"- voyage' to establish new: records. There is the very important consideration of economical fuel consumption, and what is mainly desirable is mere-* ly tofulfil time-table;requirements, but her only British superiors in speed, excluding cross-Channel vessels, will be the. Empress, of Britain and the Queen Mary. In radio-telephony and electrical equipment she is equal to anything afloat. If we-' extend the list to vessels .of -.-'ythis speed, of over 6000 tons we find a total of ten in the British Empire, and of these, two, including the Rangatira, are in New Zealand, which, I think, you will agi?ee is a notable proportion. If we compare this total of ten British ships with those of foreign countries we discover the latter to total' fifteen, of which the United States have seven, and France, Italy, and Germany the remainder, BRITISH PEOPLE'S PART. "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 matter1 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 partnership. I do not propose to enlarge on these very imjjjprtai^t matters,, though I hope that' the ijfjjjr facts and figures will give you food for thought. ... ."■ , . - The principal toast ■wjas 'TEhe Awatea," which was proposes by hjjs'*Esccellency and acknowledged ,% the v comi mander of the ship, Captain A. H. Davey. ■ After the luncheon, the ship was open to the visitors for tKe afternopn,. • and Colonel Falla expre»ed (the h^pe that all would have time' to make • a close inspection of her. <'THE AWATEA." Proposing the toast of the Ayjatea, his Excellency said that Colon'lTalla's reference to the exact status of the Awatea in the shipping world, and especially in comparison with the most up-to-date vessels afloat, was indeed illuminating and afforded 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 Company—that New Zealand and Australia should be, linked together by the best possible means.. . "The placing on the trans-Tasinan service of a vessel of this class," continued his. Excellency, "with all the comforts of.the best-class hotels, will undoubtedly tend to bring this country and the Commonwealth closer together." • . His Excellency said that perhaps when the people of Australia saw the beauty and comfort of the ship they would come in larger and increasing numbers to see the beauties of New Zealand and-to enjoy the hospitality of its most hospitable .people. v His Excellency referred to the interest being taken by the Government Tourist Department in developing beauty spots in'the Dominion and ensuring access to them. It was really a wonderful thing to think that in the waters of Wellington Harbour they had in the Awatea the most up-to-date and the most luxurious ship it was-possible to conceive—(Applause)—and he believed that the ship compared very favourably, if it did not equal in beauty, the equipment of that great and very well-known ship, the Queen Mary. His Excellency praised the beauty of the decorations and the splendid use which had been made of grained woods in this respect To him the beauty of woodwork was far greater than that of gilding and painting and ornamentation, because it was far more natural and restful to the eye.

Congratulations were extended by his Excellency to the builders of the ship and to'the very far-sightedness of the I company in acquiring such' a mag-rii-! ficent ship as the Awatea. Jfrfsras'Sfc-i

sign that the company hid the idea of progress and development and that it was determined to do its utmost to ensure the comfort of those who travelled in its ships. The name Awatea had a Maori meaning—the eye of the dawn —which seemed a significant and appropriate selection. He was sure they all hoped that the Awatea would ;usher in a new and successful era in ■British shipping in this part of the world, and that good fortune would ever travel with her. With the toast of the ship his Excellency coupled the name otJCaptauvDavey and al«o joined iih'e 'officers and crew. CAPTAIN'S REPLY. Til his reply Captain Davey said that it was anathema as a rule for a sailor to have to get up and make a speech. He would sooner take a ship out of Wellington in a gale- However, on this occasion his. task was made easier, first because of the great' interest his Excellency had taken in the ship and secondly because of the ship itself. ■Naturally he; was a very proud ■ man to have ...command of such a magnificent vessel. ■ He saw around him men occupying exalted positions in politics, banking, and other walks of life, but he vary much doubted if he would change places "with any one of them. (Applause.) Captain Davey traced his career at sea after having started in life as an insurance clerk, and having been told that he was "the world's worst junior clerk." He referred also to how in years gone by he had admired such ships as the Rotomahana and the Mararoa, Then those ships had been gigantic—greyhounds of the Tasman. He had always been ambitious, and it had always been his desire to have command of a fine big full-powered ship such as the Awatea. Much as he had loved the old ships.with which he had been associated in the past, he was afraid that now those old sweethearts had passed into the limbo. The Awatea was the ship. He referred to her British construction; the use of British materials, and the fact that the crew we*e Britishers, the majority, including himself, being New Zealanders. (Applause.) In the old days the letters' S.s. before the name of a ship meant ''screw steamer." In the case of the Awatea the first S represented service and the second S safety. The company had not spared itself in providing everything conceivable for the comfort of the passengers, and it was not the intention to sacrifice that comfort for speed. The managing director of the company, in fact, had pointed out to him that it was not as essential to carry out a time-table schedule as it was to ensure the comfort of the passengers. He thought this had been the policy of the company ever since he had been associated with it. (Applause.) Captain Davey added that The whole of the onus of running the ship was on him* .The comfort of the passengers would be his first consideration and not her speed. ' During the luncjjepn the ship's qrches'tra played selections frpnylttie bal4~cony above -the 'dining is&idon.