DO FAST ATLANTIC LINERS PAY

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10522, 19 December 1901, Page 1

DO FAST ATLANTIC LINERS PAY

sThe policy of building very fast liners is discussed in- 'Engineering,' apropos of a. contribution on the subject of shipping subsidies by Dr Ginsburg. Comparing the Deutscbland and the Ivernia, the former is- the larger by about 15 per cent., but the cost would be nearer 50 per Sent, greater than 15 per cent. The German ship "has a crew of 553 persons; the Cunarder has but 257. The German ship has a. crew of 553 persons; the Cunarder has but 357. The indicated horsepower of the Deutschlond is given as 35,000; that of the Invernia is 10,500. The Invernia carries a huge cargo, as well as a fair number of passengers, and has been running; steadily ever since she came out; the Deutschland did not run be^ tween November and April. Still, .it must be remembered that kudos counts for something. Taking these and other points into consideration, Dr, Ginsborg concludes- that speed beyond a. certain limit is not commercially desirable; and that, therefore,* if military considerations demand it, the State must give adequate inducement. At present the annual subvention of .£77,813, divided amongst seven companies, is neatly trifling; and it may be agreed that "the subsidies a/c certainly sot sought by the ■companies," as an -Admiralty witness . said before » House of Commonq Committee.. France, Germany, and Russia have been increasing the number and improving the speed of their ships sni table for; the task of supplementing their force* of naval cruisers in war time. Great Britain is dropping behind, few such ships being built at all, and 'her latest ships being less speedy than the' recent German vessels, and, indeed, " than .the British ' steamships previously constructed. The British. ; shipbuilder has cheap labour, cheap steel, and -cheap coal; bnt against these. are to be set the following statutory 1 'disabilities: The Merchandise Marks Act, light dues, regulations as to manning, crew space, and crew food, Life-Saving, Appliances .< Act, ,and ..the Lood-Line Act.