OFFICERS WELCOMED

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1940, Page 3

OFFICERS WELCOMED

new plymouth visit DEfiT TO MERCHANT FLEET

Recognition of the part played by the mercantile marine in peace and war m transporting goods to and from the Do-^ minion was given at New Plymouth yesterday when the harbour board entertained three officers of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Co. at afternoon tea. They were Captain R. J. Noal, C.B.E., marine superintendent of the company, London, Captain A. Mclntosh and Captain W. Dawson. Mrs. Noal and Mrs. Mclntosh were also welcomed. Welcoming the guests, Mr. C. E. Bellringer, chairman of the harbour board, commented that Captain Noal had been arranging for the despatch of ships to New Zealand for 31 years, but had never visited the Dominion before. Taranaki was proud that New Plymouth should have been his first port of call on his first visit to New Zealand. Captain Noal had been largely responsible for the conception and design of the Dominion Monarch, which was the most powerful motor-ship in the world. They were pleased to have the opportunity of welcoming important officers of the mercantile marine. The board was proud of its port and proud of its officers, Captain O. F. Mclntyre, Mr. J. E. Hawes and Mr. G. A. Eddowes and its staff.

Of New Zealand Origin. It was pleasant to realise that the Shaw, Savill and Albion Co. was of New Zealand origin and to know that its founders more than 80 years ago in the days of sailing ships were the first to institute anything like a regular shipping . service to New Zealand, said Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour, Mayor of New Plymouth. The transport facilities provided by shipping companies had, from the earliest days, been the principal factor in the growth and development of the Dominion. It was due to them that the primary industries of New Zealand had grown to such an extent that the Dominion to-day was able to provide an appreciable part of the food supplies of Great Britain "in her time of need. He hoped that the visitors would be satisfied with what they found at New Plymouth, because the people of New Zealand were more than satisfied with what the mercantile marine was doing, said Mr. S. Vickers, chairman of the Taranaki County Council. , Gratitude, admiration and goodwill were expressed by Mr. F. L. Frost, M-P. In time of peace piloting a great ship was an onerous duty, but how much more so was it in wartime. The mercantile marine had never failed and would never fail. The sailor was proverbially a modest man and perhaps the whole story of what the mercantile marine had done would not be known till peace came, but they did know that all honour was due to it, said Mr. P. Thomson, Mayor of Stratford. Other speakers were Messrs. J. r. Hughson (Mayor of Waitara), Gordon Fraser (president of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce), P. J- Allen (manager for Thomas Borthwick and Co. at Waitara), H. M. Purdie (deputy-chairman of the Taranaki Producers' Freezing Co.), J. L. Mander (manager of the Smart Road fertiliser works), J. L. Campbell (deputychairman of the harbour board), H. A. Foreman (chairman of the Clifton County Council) and J. R. Cruickshank (lepresenting shipping interests). The line had been the pioneer of shipping to Nevf Zealand and had had the first refrigerated ship on the run, said Captain Noal in reply. When it might have paid the line to divert its ships to other countries to the disadvantage of New Zealand it had not done so. In building the Dominion Monarch the company had New Zealand more than any other Dominion in mind. He was charmed with what he had seen of New Plymouth. He congratulated the people on building a port in which large liners could lie so snugly. Captains Dawson and Mclntosh also replied.