AMERICA'S SHIPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24824, 22 February 1944, Page 6

AMERICA'S SHIPS

WARTIME EXPANSION HUGE FLEET EMPLOYED The amazing expansion of tha American merchant marine during the war years was described by Mr. A. E. Playle, assistant representative for New Zealand on the United" States War Shipping Administration, iu a talk at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland .Rotary Cluh. Prior to 1941, said Mr. Playie, America had not developed shipping 011 a large scale, but when the Japanese strucK. at Pearl Harbour it was realised that immediate steps were necessary to carry out the co-ordination and utilisation of tlie nation's maritime resources to meet tne ueniands ol war.

The War Shipping Administration now owned about largu vessels and had under charter a rurther 10UU freighters, tankers and passenger vessels. 'ilie Uixited Scutes had supplied about 1,400,01)0 dead-weight tons ; <if shipping to Britain unuer lend-lease anu over 500,000 tons to Kussia. One and a-quarter million men and women were at work in 80 shipyards on the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coast, and over 800 industrial plants (scattered through 36 States were contributing material and equipment. The United states had concentrated on the Liberty type of ship, but this year a change would be made to Victory ships, which would be of broacler beam and longer than the Liberty vessels, with greater carrying capacity and 50 per cent faster, it. was Hoped that 500 of this type would be built in 1944.

Discussing post-war prospects, Mr, Playle expressed the view that America would never again allow her merchant marine to decline to the levels of .tie years preceding the first world war and during the years 1922 to 1940. About 8U per cent of America's foreign trade must be carried by sea and it seemed likely that America would plan to carry at- least 50 per cent in its ofra vessels. He believed that America, would plan to capture a share of tag Atlantic passenger trade, particularly as three-quarters of the_ Atlantic passengers were American citizens. -

STARS IN BATTLE AREA VISITORS FROM HOLLYWOOD (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent) N.Z. HEADQUARTERS. Feb. 21 Wide-eyed with curiosity, hundreds of New Zealand soldiers on an island in the Solomons gaped their astonishment at the novelty of seeing white women this week in the persons of three Hollv. wood stars who are travelling in this area to entertain Allied troops.-Many of the men had not seen a white woman for mere than a year. They had almost forgotten, in the midst of-war thousands of miles from civilisation, their very existence, but the blonde Mary Elliot, film and stage singer and dancer, the brunette Rosita Mareno, a Spanish musical comedy artist, and the blonds Frances Fay, accordionist and singer, were flesh and blood entertainers who brought an hour of most pleasant song, dance and glamour to the New Zealand camp. With them came the Hollywood reals star Ray Mil land, well known to New Zealand picturegoers. Ray Milland hopes to visit New Zealand at the end of the current . tour. The quartette brought the promise of visits from Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard and . Bette Davis in the near future. ACCREDITING PLAN CONFERENCE TO BE HELD Information was received by the Auckland University College Council yesterday from the registrar of the University of New Zealand that a conference was being arranged in Welling-, ton between li.aison officers appointed under the university entrance accrediting scheme, and representatives of universities, colleges, school.? and the Education Department. March 2 was ths suggested date. The council adopted the registrar'* suggestion that, in addition tp • the Auckland liaison officer, Mr. James Thompson, the college should be represented by one of its members on the results committee, which was meeting in Wellington on March 1. The cbuncil! appointed the chairman of the Professorial Board, Profelsor A. B. Fitt. to ! represent the college. USE OF MEAT COUPONS BOOKS NOT REQUIRED ! ! Although ration books will have to be produced at issuing offices or post offices in order to obtain meat coupons, it will not be necessary to take books into butchers' shops or restaurants. It has been explained officially that the coupons will be issued in separate sheets and will be perforated. When he goes into a shop to buy' rationed meat in any form, or into a hotel or restaurant for a meal including meat, the holder needs only coupons bearing the numbers current at the time ofuse. He may tear such coupons from his sheet or present loose coupons when paying for goods or meals.

UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS The Auckland University College Council announced yesterday that tne lassie Rathbone Scholarship fiad been. awarded this year to Miss Margaret Constance Brand. The scholarship tenable for three years at the college, arid is of an annual value of not ie.s than £4O. It is awarded upon examination for excellence in English and n»tory. "■