NOT LUXURIOUS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26350, 3 January 1947, Page 2

NOT LUXURIOUS

ROYAL SUITE ON RANGITIKI Far from being luxurious, the staterooms and sitting-room, which the Duchess of Gloucester and members of the Royal party will occupy on the Rangitiki when they return to England from Australia early this year, will not even approach that pre-war standard of elegance for which the ” Rang! ” ships were noted. While the ship has been in Wellington (says the Dominion) much has been accomplished in preparing B deck accommodation for the distinguished travellers. What has been done is only the first step of many that will be necessary before the Rangitiki again resumes her place as a passenger liner, as distinct from the troop-carrier role which has occupied her during the war years. ” There is no foundation In the report that large and extensive alterations are being made for the Royal party,” said Captain E. Holland, C.8.E., when interviewed, and an hour’s tour of B deck served to show the truth of his statement. Furnishings Lost in Blitz Because nearly all the fine furniture was lost during bombing in Bristol, where it was stored, only a few of the original pre-war pieces remain. These are being utilised in tire Duchess’s stateroom, and include a walnut tallboy, bureau and three-mirror dressing-table in walnut, which match the walnut panelling of the room. The six bunks which filled this stateroom having been removed, and spaciousness restored, there will be plenty of room for the five-foot settee, wing chair, easy “ tub ” chair and divan bed, yet to be fitted in. Under the guidance of Mr Swift, the purser, who will personally be looking after the Royal travellers’ wants on board, the curtains and loose covers for the suite were unpacked for inspection. These were made in England of pleasing flower-patterned chintz-like materials. Delphinium blue sprays of large flowers on a fawn ground have been selected for the loose covers, curtains and bedspread in the stateroom her Royal Highness will occupy. In the young Princes’ night nursery, scarlet and blue flowers and green leaves will run not on the same fawncoloured ground. The material In ' all cases is already made up into curtains and covers. A cot and full-sized bed and low serving tables are already in place, and the stateroom will also hold a bed which the children’s nurse will occupy. Whether Prince William and Prince Richard will take their meals in their nursery or at a special table in the sitting-room is not known. The rose-pirtk brocade curtains which will hang in the Royal sitting-room, once the first-class drawing-room, will be the sole contributors to elegance in the room —and they are the hangings which were originally there. In place of the deep couches and chairs, covered in silver grey and soft pink brocade which used to be a pre-war feature, small easy chairs and a couch with loose covers of blue and oatmeal-coloured chintz will take their place. In war-time 20 bunks were fitted into the drawing-room. Antelopecoloured Axminster carpet is fitted from wall to wall in the sitting-room, the Duchess stateroom and the Princes' nursery. Plastic Chairs for Cabins The bathrooms have been repainted and the cabins, which till now have held six bunks, have reverted to two-berth ones. Members of the Duchess's suite will occupy these. Natural and white plasticcane “chairs and beige carpets will be added as part of the furnishings. There is a cabin leading from that of the Duchess, which is for her personal maid. The pantry normally used to supply the wants of B deck passengers would serve as a kitchen for the preparation of meals for the Royal children, it was stated. It has a hot cupboard, points and refrigerator and a food lift is directly connected with the main kitchens. In all there would be more than 40 persons travelling with the party.