NEW SHIP

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 75, 29 March 1940, Page 6

NEW SHIP

IYTTPITON-

UNION COMPANY PROJECT

HELD UP BY WAR

If war had not intervened a new 1 passenger ship for, . the WellingtonLyttelton express service would have been on the stocks in the United Kingdom for the Union Steam Ship Company, of New Zealand, Ltd. An announcement of this project was made today by Colonel N. S. Falla, chairman of directors and managing director of the company, who said that the outbreak of war had made it necessary to postpone the proposal. Colonel Falla, who arrived in Wellington today, is on a brief visit concerning shipping and Tasman Airways' affairs before he assumes military duties as overseas Base Commandant of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Amongst the matters engaging his attention on his visit to England last year, said Colonel Falla, ' was the building of a new passenger vessel for the Wellington-Lyttelton service. This vessel was to be of similar dimensions and speed to the Rangatira, but with some rearrangement, and enlargement of accommodation. Tenders, based on detailed specifications prepared in Wellington, had already been invited from leading shipbuilders in the United Kingdom, when the outbreak of war intervened and perforce postponed the project until it was again practicable to build, when the work would be put in hand. A profile plan of the proposed new ship appears on the illustrations page. It will be noticed from this that in appearance she will be like the Rangatira, with the difference that she will have one funnel, whereas the Rangatira has two.