New-York tribune., 1921-05-23
C,llrlard Lines
Shipb'1ildilag
Plans Upset
I,isorganized by Attitude of
British Labor, Says Sir
Thomas Royden at Annual
Meeting of the Company
Strikes Hampering Work
Liners Sent Abroad To Be
Completed; Weehawken
Pier Project Suspended

The general shipbuilding program of
- rnnsrd Steamship Company has
sssn gravely disorganized by labor
..ssi.ions in Great Britain, it was
.ssted at the recent annual meeting Of
- company held in liverpool.
Dslay in the starting of work on the
,sa 0Oo 600 pier project at Weehawken,
|, was announced, was due TO the pre-
Sing high construction costs in
,warica. 1t was added, however, that
I. vas hoped that before long prices
yonld fall to reasonable level and
.s,t work would be suspended until
.s asn Owing to the freight situation
- company is not in immediate need
Y the increased facilities.
Increased Income Offset
II the absence Of SIR Alfred Booth,
sss 70 Illness. Sir Thomas RoYden pre-
.;sss over the meeting. He pointed
.et that while there had been an in
.rpsse of sS,o00,0 ,000 over the previous
,ssr's receipts. this had been more
Asn counterbalanced by the rise in the
garking expenses for the year The
erased cost of fuel alone, he added.
s.rounted for e, 900 and the cost
4 handling ton of cargo rose by 20
~ cent over the 1919 figure.
Referring to the shipbuildine situa-
aen. Sir Thomas said:
With the great developments which
Id taken place in the shipyards it was
assonable to suppose that the replae-
y Of the ships lost during the war
spld be effected quickly and econom-
gNv. Unfortunately q long succession
trade disputes and strikes, culminat-
e- in the disastrous joiners' strike, has
Seht about q state of affairs in the
building industry which can only
.saracterized as chaotic.
Labor Hampers Building
Prices have continued to rise while
sing hours have been considerably
ucsd, and practically every month
ing the last two years has contrib
I'd its measure Of restriction to the
in hand.
The joiners' strike has compelled US
send the Scythia 10 France to be fin
sed, and if the prevailing conditions
trade continue the Scythia will be
loved abroad by other vessels. The
sir passenger steamer delivered TO y
the last four years is the Albania.
ais vessel WAS ordered in June, 1916,
"A delivered on January l, 1921.
Owing TO the continued labor dis
res. accompanied by indifferent work,
delivery of other ships which
med our ship building program in
s-urated in June, 1918, has been de-
"a to the sxtent, in many cases, of
ge- twelve months. This unfavorable
suit has had twofold etfect-in
first place. very large sums OF
tney that have been expended on
fss vessels are lying unproductive,
in the second, the drst cost of the
sels has been enormously enhanced.
Contracts Being Cancelled
Chip owners have at last called a
IL A very large number of contracts
ge heeo Cancelled outright, and even
aan the contracts have not been
t1allv Cancelled the ship builders
sc been requested to suspend further
sgk on the ships in course of con
Taction until the cost of wages and
zsteTials has come down to reason
% level
Referring to the shipping outlook
II Thomas said that she would be E
lie ordinary wastage of shipping anc
ae Improvement in the worlds trade
rOuld put freights on reasonably
yOhtable level again"
The outlook, SO far as passenger
leamers are concerned, is more reas
iaring he added The large losses Of
ms type of vessel during the war hac
rot been replaced, he said, so thai
there was not the same depressing
eature as in the case of cargo vessels
lie declared that he looked for a goot
demand for passenger accommodation
or some time to come.