NEW ATLANTIC LINE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 109, 1 February 1935, Page 11

NEW ATLANTIC LINE

Question in Commons London. January 30. In the House of Commons, Mr. Duff Cooper, Financial Secretary to- the Treasury, further questioned /by Sir Herbert Samuel regarding the proposed Red Star trans-Atlantic line, explained that the interests concerned have informally sought a Treasury -opinion on the question, which was only informally given. It was not proposed officially to oppose the purchase of the ships.

Important issues for Noyth Atlantic shipping are raided by a question- in the House of Commons on November 30, and the answer by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. stated "The Times.” The general interest in the points raised is , increased by an intimation that if the Treasury changes its present attitude of discouragement to a new British enterprise the sponsors will call for tenders from the different shipbuilding centres for the construction of two trans-Atlantic vessels of rather .less than 30,000 tons gross each. The nucleus of a new trans-Atlantic line exists in three very serviceable British vessels of the Red Star Line. These arc the Belgcnland, a particularly line (ess-el of 27,000 tons gross, built in 1923; the I’ennland, of 16,300 tons gross, built in 1.922; and the Westernland, of 16,500 tons gross, built in 1918. They are owned by a company which is controlled by the international Mercantile Marine Company, of New Jersey, and it is known that the American company desires to dispose of its remaining British assets before the eml of this year. It is stated that but for the discouraging attitude of the Treasury (indicated in views expressed to the sponsors of the scheme) these ships would have already been bought for a new British enterprise. If the attitude of the Government is unchanged, will these vessels be sold much before their time for scrapping, like the fine liners Minnewaska and Minnetonka, of 22,000 tons gross, built in 1923 and 1924 respectively, which' were recently disposed of for breaking up? It is also stated that the same influence which has hitherto prevented the purchase of the Belgcnland, Pennlaml ami Westernland also stopped-the buying of the two other liners for a British service.

The policy of the new British enterprise would be lo adapt the last three ships for their new service; find a use for the other two vessels; and place orders for two new ships to be ready in 1937. The new vessels would be of 22 knots, and a schedule of sailings for the seasons 1937 and 193 S is reported already to have been prepared for them. The sponsors of* the scheme, who have important British shipping and financial interests, believe that there is a large public waiting to cross tlie Atlantic on visits if low rates can be ottered. They believe that the very large numbers which would wish to make the passage comfortably at moderate speeds would justify fares comparable with those in other routes. 1

The proposal of a British group to buy Red Star liners and organise a new trans-Atlantic service at cheap rates was raised again in the House of Commons on December 20. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, replying to a question, refused to reconsider his decision to discourage the necessary capital issue..to finance this project. He said that the recent revision of the scheme by the promoters did not alter the fact that it would revive uneconomic competition to the prejudice of British interests in the North Atlantic trade. new p. & o. Liner Duchess to Perform Launching London. January 30. The Duchess of York will launch the new Peninsular and Oriental steamer Strathmore, named after her father, at Barrow on April 4. The Strathmore will be the largest ship in the history of the Peninsular Line and rhe biggest and fastest ever built for the India service.

The Strathmore which is being built at Vickers-Armstrong's shipyards, at Bar-row-in-Furness, will be ready for service in October. It will have accommodation for 445 first-class and 663 tourist-class passengers. The first-class dining saloon will bo fitted with an nir-conditioning system, and, as a prevention against fire, the vessel will be equipped with sprinklers in all passenger cabins and crew spaces. To meet the present-day requirements of the trade, the Strathmore will be fitted with five special insulated chambers for the carriage of chilled beef. She will also have several chambers for the handling of other refrigerated cargoes requiring different temperatures.