NEW LINERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22540, 3 October 1936, Page 12

NEW LINERS

THE PACIFIC ROUTE SYNDICATE'S SCHEME TWO 20,000-TON SHIPS PIiOVUHNG FASTER TRAVEL ,\ powerful overseas syndicate is considering the construction of two fast passenger vessels of approximately 20.000 tons each for the Sydney-. l\uck-l;ind-Los Angeles or Sydney-Auckland-Yanooiivcr service. This was revealed yesterday by Mr. Brendan Dowling, a Sydney business man, who > s returning from Fngland and America by the Mar iposa. As the representative of an Australian group interested in the project and desirous of fostering the tourist trade between the I nitcd States and Australia and New Zealand, Mr. Dowling has been conferring with the syndicate while abroad. While it would be some months before a final decision was made, Mr. Dowling said that plans and specifications of the vessels had been prepared and details of organisation were now being discussed. It was hoped to shorten the travelling time across the Pacific and, with that end in view, the vessels would have an average speed of at least 24 knots. They would be built especially to suit tropical conditions and would provide every facility for comfort and convenience. Tendency for Speed "Rapid strides have been made in transport since my 'ast visit overseas about a year ago," Mr. Dowling said. "The tendency is for greater speeds than those at present attained. Although the Queen Marv has made a record crossing of tho Atlantic it is anticipated that that record will bo broken. "Railways in the United States have been speeded up, and it is now possible to cross the continent in 56.} hours running time," Mr. Dowling added. "Those improvements already are having their effect on the trend of tourist traffic, and it is noticeable that people domiciled on the West Coast of America are travelling in greater numbers to the Fast Coast of the continent and to Europe. Tourists From America "Owing to the proximity of such a potential 'tourist trade and of the improvements in transport generally it is of vital importance to New Zealand and Australia that shipping services available in the Pacific should be in keeping with the most modern services." Mr. Dowling said. That was the type of service it was hoped to provide. On several occasions during the year particularly fast runs might be arranged. "Should Empire Governments he contemplating the granting of subsidies," Mr. Dowling concluded, "opportunity should be given to interested parties to submit particulars of the services j they could render."