EIGHT CHRISTENINGS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1942, Page 6

EIGHT CHRISTENINGS

SEVEN NEW WARSHIPS BUILT IN CANADA. CORVETTES & MINESWEEPERS. SOREL, Quebec. Canada’s rapidly mounting vzar effort was vividly displayed recently during the ceremonies which attended the launching of a sleek new warship and the christening of seven others. Never before in this country had eight ships been christdKed in one day. The new vessels—four corvettes and four minesweepers—were named after Canadian cities and towns scattered through seven provinces from Esquimau, British Columbia, to Fredericton, New Brunswick. The ships were christened by prominent women from each municipality—including five mayor’s wives.

A highlight in the programme of speeches after the ceremony was the announcement by Captain G. M. Hibbard, director of technical development in the Royal Canadian Navy, that Canadian corvettes already have scored successes against enemy Captain Hibbard said that Canada has turned out an average of one corvette every four days since the opening of navigation on the Great Lakes this year.

The Prime Minister, Mr Mackenzie King, saluted the vessels in a telegram in which he stated “Please express to workers of all ranks and occupations the thanks of the Government of Canada for their loyal labour in their country’s cause. My colleagues in the Government of Canada join me in wishing the new ships Godspeed on a victorious way.”