Cunard Liners
The Cunard Company is contemplating the building of two great new liners, but it is not yet known what their size and speed will be. It is said that the Company would like to build vessels of seventy thousand tons which would carry four thousand passengers, besides a crew of eight hundred, and would steam thirty knots. They would be a plain answer to the wonderful Bremen' and Europa ' of Germany, but the chairman of the Cunard Company disclaimed any intention of vain glorious com- petition. In his view the whole problem is strictly economic. He thinks that two huge and very fast ships could do the work of three of the present size. This is Rationalization. The cost of each ship is estimated at £5,000,000. The question of insuring such expensive vessels is believed to have staggered the underwriters, and there is talk of the Government itself taking a share in the risk. We shall not venture an opinion as to whether it would be sound policy to build ships of this magnitude. We have sometimes found more comfort in moderate sized vessels than in the mammoths. However, we are cheerfully prepared to be taught by experience.
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