THE AWATEA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22987, 16 September 1936, Page 3

THE AWATEA

LUNCHEON PARTY ON BOARD VICE-REGAL CONGRATULATIONS (Per United Press Association? WELLINGTON, Sept. 15. Speaking at a luncheon party on board the Awatea when many prominent citizens were the guests .of the" Union Steam Ship Company, Mr N. S. Falla. chairman and managing director, said that the primary result of the introduction of the Awatea would be to draw into closer union New Zealand and Australia, whose destinies were so closely interwoven. Mr Falla mentioned that Lloyd's Register disclosed the interesting and arresting fact that of the existing ocean-going vessels in excess of 10.00 J) tons with a speed of 22 knots or over there were only six owned in the British Empire. The Awatea was one of these six. If the list were extended to vessels of this speed over 6000 tons they would find a total of 10 in the British Empire, and two of these, the Rangatira and the Awatea, were in New Zealand waters. The total of foreign ships in this class was 15, of which the United States had seven and France, Italy, and Germany the remainder.

The toast of the Awatea was proposed by his Excellency the Governor-General (Viscount Galway), who said it was really wonderful that in the waters of Wellington Harbour they had the most up-to-date and most luxurious ship it was possible to conceive. He praised the beauty and artistry of the decorations and tht splendid use that had been made of grained woods, the beauty of which was far greater than that of gilding, painting, and ornamentation. They all hoped the Awatea would usher in a new and successful era in British ships in this part of the world and that good fortune would ever travel with her.

Captain Davey. replying, said he saw around him men occupying exalted positions in many walks of life, but he would not change places with any one of them. In the case of the s.s Awatea the first "s " represented service and the second safety. The comfort and safety of the passengers would come before any v considerations of speed or scheduled time table, this having been the policy of the company ever since he had been associated with it.