News from 1925: Vedic's first trip to Australia

[Mark Baber]

The West Australian, 12 December 1925
Retrieved from the National Library of Australia web site,
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

VEDIC AT ALBANY
---
Albany, Dec. 11
---
The White Star liner Vedic arrived at noon to-day from Liverpool via
Capetown. The vessel is the first of the line to carry third-class
passengers only, and the accommodation was fully booked to the number of
750. One hundred passengers landed at Albany, having made the trip with
Government assistance. They were met by the Immigration Officer (Mr.
Croweour) [?] and left by the evening's train for Perth. The Vedic was know
[sic] as the "democratic ship," and this is her first run to Australia. She
cleared for the Eastern States at 5 p.m.

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[Mark Baber]

The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 December 1925
Retrieved from the National Library of Australia web site,
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

NEW VESSEL
---
AUSTRALIAN TRADE
---
WHITE STAR LINER
---
With a full complement of 700 passengers, the White Star liner Vedic, the
latest addition to the Australian fleet of the line, has arrived in
Australian waters, and is expected at Sydney on Monday next.

The Vedic, which was built in 1918, and was formerly a well-known vessel in
the Atlantic services, underwent extensive alterations, lasting several
months, prior to being placed in the Australian trade. The vessel marks a
departure from the usual type of White Star passenger steamers in the
Australian trade, in that she is equipped for the carriage of third-class
passengers only, instead of the one-cabin class usually catered for.
Accommodation consists of two , four, and six-berth cabins, and special
attention has been given to the public rooms. She is equipped with insulated
space for the carriage of frozen produce and fruit, and the vessel will
probably lift a part cargo of fruit on her first homeward trip from
Australia.

In the case of the Vedic, an alteration is being made In the White Star
line's passenger ship itinerary. The Vedic will proceed homeward via Suez
Canal, calling at Melbourne and Adelaide, instead of following the Cape
route. Passage rates have been fixed on the same scale as those of other
lines carrying third-class passengers via Suez, namely, £38 to £44,
according to accommodation.

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[Mark Baber]

The Argus, Melbourne, 18 December 1925
Retrieved from the National Library of Australia web site,
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

VEDIC'S FIRST VISIT
---
Some of the Passengers Dissatisfied
---
On her first visit to Australia, the White Star Line steamer Vedic arrived
at Melbourne yesterday. The Vedic, which was formerly engaged in the
trans-Atlantic service, has been converted for the Australian run and on
this trip brought out 750 third-class passengers, the majority of whom are
migrants. Several of the passengers criticised the conditions on board the
Vedic, and it was stated that complaints had been made at various times on
the voyage from Liverpool. The ventilation was described as unsatisfactory
in some parts of the ship. A section of the passengers complained about the
food.

Major G. Davies, who was welfare officer for the migrants, considers that
many of the complaints were ill founded. "The officers have given us every
assistance on the voyage," he said. "There has been a certain amount of
grumbling, and complaints about the food and living conditions at times have
been fairly frequent. Those relating to the food I consider to have little
foundation, but certainly the poor ventilation and bad atmosphere down
below, and the small amount of space on deck for exercise justified some
comment. Many of the complaints, however, have been magnified."

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[Mark Baber]

The Brisbane Courier, 4 January 1926
Retrieved from the National Library of Australia web site,
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

THE "DEMOCRATIC SHIP"
---
Known since her appearance shortly after the war as the "Democratic Ship,"
the White Star steamer Vedic arrived in Brisbane on Saturday. She brought
with her the first batch of migration under the new immigration agreement.
This steamer caters for third class passengers only, and is on her maiden
voyage to Australia; previously she was engaged in the Atlantic trade. Both
the passenger accommodation and the cargo space were full to capacity for
the voyage, and of the 750 passengers for the various Australian ports 521
were assisted by the Government. Of the 61 passengers who disembarked at
Brisbane 45 were immigrants, including a batch of Salvation Army boys under
the care of Field Major G. Davies. These boys were given a special send-off
at Regent's Hall, London, and her Royal Highness Princess Louise attended to
wish the lads bon voyage. There were approximately 53 families on board when
the ship left Liverpool and the largest was that of Mr. and Mrs. Seaborn, of
Aderdaro, who brought with them their four sons and two daughters. The
youngest passenger was a chubby little chap of four months. "He will soon be
a 'dinkum' Australian," remarked a member of the ship's company. "He was
one of the best 'men' on board."

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