SPEEDING UP

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11960, 15 October 1924, Page 2

SPEEDING UP

LONDON TO AUSTRALIA. IN LESS THAN 20 DAYS? With the idea of submitting to the Prime Minister of Australia ,a scheme for shortening the journey between London and Australia to less than twenty days, a Mr Werry is leaving London next month for Australia. His idea is to use oil-driven vessels of 13,500 tons with a speed of 25 knots, operating between Port Said and Fremantle, the rest of the journey to be finished by trains, the locomotives of which -will travel at a speed of 75 miles per hour.„ This is a scheme which is not altogether impossible, And holds out good possibilities of being accomplished. It is not a new one, as it was mooted some time back. Until Mr Werry gets out to Australia there is no means of knowing what the exact scheme is outside the bare facts cabled. It would appear, however, that he is seeking not only the sanction of the Federal Government for the work, but financial aesistance as a direct loan in the way of a subsidy or some euch thing. To reduce the present journey to less than twenty days wonld be most acceptable, but the Government xdust be certain of its ground before making any definite move. It is something similar, to that outlined by Sir James Connolly only that the vessels will be smaller and, if anything, faster. As is the case with that scheme, there is nothing whatever to prevent Mr Werry from going ahead, but not one penny of the people's money should be spent unless the Federal Government is absolutely certain it wonld be quite safe to do eo. This, however, can only be decided when the full scheme is submitted.