KING'S SEVEN MILE TOUR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18991, 16 April 1936, Page 15

KING'S SEVEN MILE TOUR

VISIT TO QUEEN MARY EVERY PART EXPLORED TESTS FOR VIBRATION GLASGOW, -March 12. The King was given an enthusiastic welcome in Glasgow yesterday when lit paid bis first visit, to'Scotland since his accession to inspect the Onnard-White Star liner Queen Mary, now Hearing completion at Clydebank. In a seven-mile, walk be examined every detail of the vessel, from tju engine-rooms. He sat in armchairs if. the lounges, turned on taps in the cabins and balanced a penny on edge on thcenginc casing to prove the absence o) vibration. For three hours to-day the King ex plored the giant Cunard- White Star liner, now almost ready for her voyage to the sea on Tuesday week. In spite of heavy rain—recalling the King ; s last visit when, as Prince ol Wales, he accompanied King George and Queen .Mary at the launching of the liner on September 26, 1934—huge crowds gave him an enthusiastic welcome. His Majesty, who travelled from London overnight, drove through packed streets to John Brown's yard, where the liner lies. "LOST" I'.V OFFICIAL PARTY As soon as he entered the vessel, up the workmen's gangway, covered with cool dust, be asked that the official itinerary be extended so that be might see the' third-class quarters as well as those of the first and tourist class passengers. But the King refused to he hurried. Once the official party lost. him. After a hurried search be was found discussing some of the decorations with Mr. Pigot. the managing director, and Mr. Skimngton, the yard manager, who have superintended the building since the liner's keel was laid in 1930. On another occasion be was trapped for several moments in an airsbaft with an engineer in overalls with whom he was chatting. SPEED OF 29 KNOTS Everywhere he went the King asked searching questions and displayed a wide knowledge of shipbuilding and shipping problems. When on the bridge Sir Edgar Britten, the liner's commander, told hiin that her service speed would be 29 knots. h\ the engine-room the King asked for one of the engines to be started. Commenting on the absence of vibration, he placed a penny on its edge on the engine casing. The penny balanced there motionless. He saw the swimming bath, the gymnasium, the dressing rooms and the cabins. Gf the third-class accommodation he said: "This is as comfortable as the first-class in liners of 20 years ago." RETURNING "VERY SOON" He climbed down perpendicular steel ladders into the bowels of the ship and up the outside ladders to the sun deck apd the promenade deck. Before leaving, the King said to Sir Percv Bates, chairman of the CunardWhite Star Company': "She is a marvellous vessel—a ship built for utility." When lie. left the liner hundreds of cheering workmen surrounded him. The ship's siren—audible-for 12 miles—was sounded for the first time. Mr. John Stewart, Lord Provost of Glasgow, siiid to-night: — "The King told me that he is returning to Glasgow very soon. 1 expect that he is coming to take part in a. trial trip on the Queen Mary. I cannot tell you the date, as it has not been definitely arranged." No press representatives were allowed on board the Queen Mary during the King's visit, and Mr. David Kirkwood, M.P. for Dumbarton Burghs, who accompanied the Royal party, gave these impressions:—"Little wonder that King Edward showed his admiration and spoke his praise, as lie walked yesterday through stately public rooms and luxurious cabins or descended by the narrow ladder to the amazing engine rooms or passed the perfect arrangements oi kitchens and bakeries. "We all became like children in Hie babies' nursery, picking; out pictures from childhood days.

"Then wo grow'up into boys when wo came to that supreme achievement, the engines. "The more we saw (he more the wonder grew. The Queen Mary seemed unlike n ship. It is a palace. Trying to appreciate her is like trying fo grasp a large highly-polished globe too large for the hand to hold.

"Never in all my experience, even at a critical moment in a football match when ,1 favourite scored a longed-for goal, have 1 ever heard such a spontaneous roar ol welcome as the .King received from the men who built the ship which bears his mother's name."