The Cabin Ship Controversy The dispute over the rating of
the Queen Mary ' has been clarified by the letter which appeared on Wednesday in The Times, from Sir Percy Bates, the chairman of the Cunard White Star Company. From his statement it is clear that his company deliberately entered their new ship, known to be the last word in comfort and design, not as a liner catering for first class travellers, but as a " cabin class " vessel. The whole meaning and intent of the latter designation had been altered by the practice of many shipping companies in adhering, indeed, to the letter, but not to the spirit of the Atlantic Conference agreements. Ageing first class ships, when entered as " cabin " class, were permitted to run on lower rates, and thus could compete with their more modern rivals. This perfectly legitimate and sensible arrangement was nullified by the policy, which then became general, of building new vessels to operate as " cabin " ships from the first. Presumably the rather startling action of the Cunard White Star Company will bring the issue to a head, and definite proposals will be put before the Atlantic Con- ference. It appears even possible that the policy of subsi- disation, followed by so many foreign Governments, will be modified to bring Atlantic services on to a more economic basis. That would mean real progress towards sanity.
* * *
Previous page
