A BIG COMBINE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13367, 17 August 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

A BIG COMBINE.

The details of a big ship-building combuuviion b-twiwi Mes;srs John Brown and Co., of Clyde-bank, and Mcssrc Harland and Wo'ft. B-elfri.t, were published on June* 20th. This will form one of tho largest combinations in the world for the building and complete, equipment of war ves~el'-- and other .ehips. : The. two firms have hitherto turned out the largest and b=st-know Atlantic paessniier liners afloat. The Lrr-itania, built by John Brown and Co. at Clydebank, now undergoing her trials, is tho largest vtrssel in the world, and the Adriatic, recently delivered bv Harhind end Wolff ranks next amongst British-built ship-: now in actual s-ervie<\ Harland and Wolff have not engaged in Admiralty work. ew.pt thai- they have built some battleship vngiins for the British Oovernmeut, bur .T'hn Brown and Co. have a distinguished r-00-d for battleships, enroers-, and torpedo craft for Ilia British and Japanese Ooveurments. The distribution of business between the two yards will therefore follow natural lines. At th* Kirao time- the cost of building will be cheapened, and the, duplication of certain cla-oea of plant can b» avoided in fniure. In otli-T respect'-, no change will take place in tho management or admin is i radon of either Cum. as they mnain diMinol bath in capital and staff and board* of directors. The. great repairing works at Southhampton, w hiihai-e- now under construction by tho r.elf.i'i firm, will relieve both yards so far as may be d i:irab'.-> in case of a glut in repairing worlr. With regard to tonnage, output both firms have been frequently at tb"> head of the list. They will emplov in collieries and blast- furnaces, iron mines, at- bom 1 and abroad, si-eel works, armour plate mills, ordnance work*, and in th>ir e-n<rin: ring works and shipyards rver 30,000 m':i. earning more than £2,250,000 a year in wage.".