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Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1930, Page 4

Aeconnixc: to a London message the amalgamation of the Hnmburg-Amcv-ikn and North German Lloyd shipping lines is regarded as a formidable challenge te Rritish maritime supremacy. This relates particularly, of course, to the trans-Atlantic services. It is possible that the advantages (o the two German companies concerned in a combination that will eliminate competition between themselves, and enable them to marshal their joint resources against those of foreign maritime enterprise, are not over-estimated. 'I ho

Germans, it- will he recalled, won the coveted “blue ribbon” of the Atlantic last year, when the new North German Lloyd liner Bremen heat by a few hours the record of that splendid vessel, the Mauretania, whicti up till that tune was still proudly maintaining her .vmg esiahlisued reputation as the greyhound of the Atlantic And now, as is reported by came, the new North tie. man Lloyd liner Europa, making her maiden voyage, has beaten the Bremen’s record lur the crossing to New York That the Aiauretania, a ship now twenty-two years old, should maintain the race with these two new German vessels, built for speed and or considerably gueater tonnage, it would he of course unreasonable to e..00. t. 4 lie surprising thing is, per- • nap.',, that une advantage m speed )o.:-sessed by the latest- acquisitions to the North German Lloyd fleet has nor iioen greater than is actually the case. Presumably the value to a- shipping line of possessing a record-holding vessel consists mainly in the prestige which the distinction carries, and in die extent to which passengers are likely to be attracted towards a ship which combines the greatest speed with luxury. The activity whi.h the Germans are displaying in the Atlantic service will no doubt furnish the great British shipping lines with all the stimulus they need to look to their future. Both the Cunard and the AVhite Star lines have been reported to have new vessels of great tonnage in contemplation. But it seems that a couple of years must elapse before the new Cmiarder, which is said to be now definitely planned, will he ready to take up the challenge of the latest German liners.