Combustible Fittings in Ships President Roosevelt's declared intention to take
steps to eliminate wood construction from all passenger vessels built in America met with approval from speakers at a luncheon given last week by the British Steelwork Associa- tion. The recent fires on big ships and. the grave loss of life that followed have called the attention of the public to a matter which ought to be officially considered here no less than in America. According to Mr. Francis Lorne the problem is not so much one of substituting steel for wood as of finding an aesthetic treatment for steel. Public taste, we are assured, demands panelled rooms and decoration with material that is apt to be highly combus- tible. But it is difficult to believe that the travelling public cannot be educated to prefer safety at sea to mural splendour—supposing these to be incompatible. In any event it is within the powers of the Board of Trade to make whatever regulations may be necessary ; though it would be well to do so in conjunction with other Governments. * * * *
Previous page
