CUNARD COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20537, 11 April 1930, Page 11

CUNARD COMPANY.

CHAIRMAN'S RESIGNATION.

SIR P. BATES FILLS VACANCY. (Received April 10. 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless. RUGBY, April Sir Thomas Roydcn, at the annual meeting of tho Cunard Steam Ship Company, Ltd., resigned his position as chairman, which ho has held sinco 1922. Ho will continue to be a director.

Sir Percy Bates, deputy chairman, was appointed to fill tho vacancy.

Sir Thomas Royden. shipping magnate, was hunt in May, 1871, as the eldest sen of Sir Thomas Royden. Bart., whom ho succeeded in 1917. Educated at \\ iuchester and Magdalen College, Oxford, ho travelled widely in the har Last, and tho United States. He became a director of the. Cunard Steam Ship Company. Ltd., in 1905. In 1909 ho was appointed deputy-chairman, and in 1022 chairman. During tho war Sir- Thomas' expert knowledge of shipping and commerce proved invaluable to Britain and her Allies. .As a member of tho Shipping Control Committee, which devoloped into the Ministry of Shipping, and of the Royal Commission on Wheat Supplies ho took a loading part in provisioning the country and defeating the submarine menace. For these and other valuable services he was made a. Companion of Honour and also received French and Italian decorations. At the end of the war ho stood for Parliament and was elected for the Bootlo division as a Conservative, but retired m November. 1922. Sir Thomas, who has played an important part in revolutionising ocean travel, has many shipping and other interests as well as the Cunard Line. He is head of Thomas Royden and Sons, and of 'llie Santa Clara' Steamship Company, (hairman of the Anchor Line, and a director of many concerns, including the London. Midland and Scottish Railway, Midland Bank, Commonwealth and Dominion Line. Phoenix Assurance Company and Union Marino Insurance Company. At one time he was chairman of the Liverpool Steamship Owners' Association and president of the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom. To Liverpool lie. is prominent in philanthropic work. His sister is Miss Maude Royden, well known as a preacher. Sir Percy Bates, the new chairman of the Cunard Company, is the fourth baronet. He was horn on May 32, 1379, and was educated at Winchester.