THE QUEEN MARY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13162, 21 January 1936, Page 3

THE QUEEN MARY.

FEEDING HER PASSENGERS. COLOSSAL /COMMISSARIAT. The biggest single food and drink bill in the history of British shipping lines will be paid by the Cun-ard-White Star Company for the victualling of the Queen Mary before she leaves on her maiden voyage on May 27, says an exchange. The catering department of the vessel will have to provide for the 2200 passengers and crew over 10,000 full meals a day during the Atlantic crossing, in addition to thousands of snacks and light refreshments. The importance of this department can be measured by the fact that its personnel will account for about 800 of the skill’s crew of 1200. There will be at least 100 cooks under the chef, 14 butchers, a large staff of bakers and an army of kitchen hands. Approximate figures of the quantities of food which will be loaded into the Queen Mary's store-rooms and refrigerators are: 20 tons of meat. 20 tons of fish. 70,000 eggs. 40001 b of tea and coffee. 10,0001 b of sugar. 30 tons of potatoes. 4000 gallons of milk. 40,0001 b of mixed vegetables. 3 tons of butter. 20001 b of cheese. 600 crates of apples and oranges. 4000 chickens and ducklings. Variety, in addition to quantity, is to be a special feature, and it is hoped to provide anything any passenger may ask for, from peanuts to passion fruit, or from a boiled egg to an oyster. In the 44 wine cellars” there* will be about 10,000 bottle's of wines, besides 40,009 bottles of beer and 60,000 bottles of mineral waters. The most elaborate ship’s telephone service ever known will be ready in the Queen Mary next week. Expert engineers will travel to Clydebank from Coventry, where the system has been in preparation for nearly a year, to supervise the ilist ii llation. Every passenger on board will be able to telephone to practically any part of the world. Five hundred cabins will be equipped with bedside telephones—hand microphones in cr?am. For passengers in all classes telephone boxes in various parts of file ship will l>e available, each equipped with a table ancl chair. Long-distance telephone calls will be transmitted by ladio telephony through Rugby. Special secrecy devices will ensure the privacy of all conversations. The main switchboard of the ship will accommodate a bout--700 lines, and will be in the charge of three operators, all expert linguists. Applications for berths in the Queen Mary, when she makes her maiden voyage, aire still being received . 44 We have already received sufficient applications to fill the liner many times Over,” said an official. 44 We cannot say yet how the accommodation will lie allotted. That will bo a matter for the Liverpool office.” Preference may be given to regular travellers on the line.