UNDER ABERDEEN FLAG

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 338, 25 April 1928, Page 9

UNDER ABERDEEN FLAG

COMMONWEALTH LINE SERVICE SHIPS RETAIN OLD NAMES (United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian P.A. United Service) Reed. Noon. LONDON, Wed. Lord Kylsant, referring to his purchase of the Commonwealth Line, stated that the service would be conducted under the Aberdeen flag, and would be called the Aberdeen and Commonwealth Line. The manager of the WTiite Star Line of Aberdeen, Mr. John MacMillan, who conducted the negotiations on behalf of Lord Klysant, in an interview said there was a most hopeful outlook for the new venture which ought to be popular among shippers. It was proposed to run the Bay and Dale steamers in conjunction with the Shaw, Savill Company, giving a fast fortnightly service to all ports via Suez. The directors had considered the renaming of the steamers with tlie names of famous old Aberdeen liners like the Thermopylae, but had decided, as the Commonwealth liners had the goodwill of the trade, to retain their names. “SATISFACTORY SALE” INCREASING UPKEEP ' MR. BRUCE WARNS UNIONS (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) Reed. 9.45 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day. Mr. Larkin, chairman of the Commonwealth Shipping Board, declared that the sale of the ships to the White Star Line was most satisfactory, particularly as the Bay steamers had reached an age when the cost of upkeep was rapidly increasing. Lord Kylsant had agreed to take over suitable officers, engineers and other ratings already employed on these boats. In the House of Representatives at Canberra on Tuesday the Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, announced that the contract with Lord Kylsant for the sale of the ships of the Commonwealth Line had been signed and a deposit had been paid. Tenders would now be invited for the leasing of Cockatoo Island dockyard. Mr. Bruce warned the seamen that if they attempt to boycott the Commonwealth Line vessels under their new ownership the Government will use whatever powers it possesses, and if necessary will obtain additional powers, to deal with the unions concerned. In addition to Lord Kylsant’s tender for the steamers on behalf of the White Star Line, there were two others. Runciman, London, Limited, tendered ;£1,250,000 and Sir James Conolly, on behalf of the Australian Shipping Company, 1928, tendered £1,575,000. The Kylsant interests have given an undertaking to maintain a service equivalent to that which the Commonwealth Line ran and also to maintain an efficient Australian organisation.