LAUNCHING OF AWATEA

Evening Star, Issue 22273, 26 February 1936, Page 9

LAUNCHING OF AWATEA

UNION COMPANY'S ENTERPRISE PRAISE FROM LORD BLEDISLOE Prca Ameiation—By Telegraph—Copjright LONDON, February 25. (Received February 2ti, at 10 a.m.) At a luncheon given by Messrs Vickers Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness after Lady Bledisloe had launched the Union Company’s 14,000-ton vessel Awatea Lord Bledisloe referred to the dark outlook for British shipping in the Pacific, and said it was a source of hopeful relief that the problem was receiving the earnest consideration of the Australian and New Zealand Governments, which would bo materially augmented by the definite and generous ehcouragement of the British Government. Lord Bledisloe praised the company’s enterprise in building the coastal vessels Matua and Kauri, with the possibility of laying down a third, and also in buying five De Hayiland air liners for services in the Dominion. CHILLED MEAT TRADE LONDON. February 25. (Received February 96, at 11 a.m.) In the presence of a distinguished gathering Lady Bledisloe launched the Awatea, which took the water in perfect style. Mr James Callander, a director of Messrs Vickers Armstrong, thanking Lady Bledisloe at the luncheon following, hinted that the Union Company was alive to the possibilities of New Zealand’s entry into the chilled meat trade as a result of recent developments in refrigeration He added that its policy was now so progressive that there was little opportunity for foreign tonnage to enter its domain. Sir Charles Craven, stressing the development of British engineering works, declared he was convinced that they were able to undertake a defence programme efficiently and without panic.