SAILORS' SOCIETY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 9178, 29 June 1915, Page 7

SAILORS' SOCIETY.

THE LYTTELTON SEAMEN'S

INSTITTUE.

APPEAL FOR FUNDS

Tho New Zealand branch of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society has ; recently been prosecuting a 'campaign' •, to ■ raise funds to carry on its work [ among the seamen. Several meetings have been held in different parts of : Canterbury, and Ashburton, which was ■ included in the itinerary, was visited by the chief officials of the branch yesterday. The objects of the visit are:— (1) To form a 'branch!of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society in Ashburton ; and (2) to make a special appeal for money required for urgent extensions to the present Institute. Two meetings were convened—the first (for ladies) in the afternoon, and the other (a public meeting) at night. Tho Ladies' Meeting. The ladies' meeting in the Ashburton Borough Council Chambers was only fairly attended. The Mayoress (Mrs R. Galbraith) presided. , , Mrs M. J. Miller explained what the work of the ladies would be if. :a : branch were formed. She said they' would have to provide Christinas pro.-^ sents for the men, as'well as " iuck " boxes for the men-.^of the New Zea- • land warships at the Dardanelles. : Mr S. Booth (superintendent of the Lyttelton Mission) spoke on the national aspect of the work. It was subsequently decided by the meeting to form a branch t& be known as "The Ashburton Ladies' Guild of the Seamen's Institute." Mrs R. Galbraith was elected president, Mrs C. J. Cowan treasurer, and Mrs F. A. Smith secretary. .It was reEolved to meet monthly, and the subscription was fixed at 5s per annum. The Public Meeting. The public meeting took place in ; the Orange Hall in the evening and | was attended by about 30 ladies and I gentlemen. The Mayor (Mr Robert < I Galbraith) occupied the chair, and was ■ supported on the platform by Mr M. ' J. Miller (president of the New Zealand branch of the Society, and also chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour ' Board). Mr S. Booth (superintendent of the Lyttelton Mission) and Mr ' Ronald 8. Badger (secretary of tbeLyt.telton Institute). Several of the clergymen of the town were included | in the audience. ! Prior to the commencement of the meeting the, ABhburton Citizens' Defence Corps Band played 'several selections outside the Hall. The proceed- I ings were opened by the singing of the , first verse of the National Anthem, after which prayer was offered by the Rev. G. Miller. Mr M. J. Miller apoko on the local (New Zealand) aspect of tho Society's work, with special • reference, toi the Lyttelton Seamen's.lnstitute. He said • that that he wished to make no secret of the fact that he and the other officers of the Institute had como to Ashburton for money. They felt that much good could be accomplished if 1 another storey were added to the build- , ing, for the officers and engineers of ; tho ships that came to Lyttelton. If j any seamen of the New Zealand war- , ships now engaged at the Dardanelles , camo back to New Zealand wounded ] the Institute would feel it incumbent , upon it, provided accommodation was - available, to make an offer to the De- - ipartment to look after those men. Mr ; j Miller went on to speak of the work , accomplished by the Institute at Lyt- , telton. He said that the foundation , stone of the building had been laid on December 9, 1911, by Lord Islington. The work of the Lyttelton branch had begun in 1893, and had been continued by a small but very devoted and energetic body of men and women. The efforts of these workers, coupled with the assistance of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, the Press, shipping, companies and ladies' guilds, etc.. had resulted in a splendid Institute being completed and incorporated with the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, at a cost of nearly £3000. It was now • entirely free of debt. The British and Foreign Sailors' Society was practically a world-wide institution. In about 120. ports the work was being- carried on, and it was the oldest and largest international Sailors' Society in tho world, having been founded in 1818. Since the opening, the work had moved steadily forward, and during last year 7512 naval and merchant seamen and boys had taken advantage of the Home '—a record number. In addition 1345 {visits to ships had;been made, with o-ood results. The writing room, with tho motto " Don't forget to write home" had been well patronised and 2114 letters had been written, all the material being provided free, I'lcmes for visiting crews had been .very . successful,' and sports, meals and prizes had been provided for the men. Dur- \ ing the year 35 concerts, 23 socials, i one Navy"League lecture, three lantern lectures and four first aid lectures had been given and 31 visits to prison had been made, and seamen on disclvargo had been assisted with'fairly good results. 'One hundred and twenty-six meals and 44 beds had been given to destitute seamen. Seamen in .hospital had been regularly visited, ami five seamen who were drowned during the i year had been buried from the Institute. A sum of £169 had been forwarded to relatives of seamen and £200 had been banked for seamen—and in most cases for men who, had never banked before. . Further, 240. officers, had made m;<>. of the club room find library. Numerous letters of appreciu-, tion and thanks had boon received from captains, officers ;md seamen during the year. As an instance of. assistance givon by'seamen themselves the " ships' companies' of two Home steam- , crs had collected and subscribed 'this;: 1 year £65 towards tho Institute funds. Assistance and help had boon given to tho families of naval and mercantile seamen. A wry noticeable feature or this year's work bad been _ the attendance 'at tho religious .services. Three hundred and twelve New Testaments had been given to the men. mostly by « request, and U Chinese, two French. „123 Norwegian, three Italian and 35 Finnish New Testaments bad. been 1 given, also 07 travellers' guides. The Seamen's Christian Brotherhood bad been started during the year, and had now a membership of 63 from the Lyttelton branch. A. policy of progress - and renewed vigour was to be carried 3 out during the present year, and would 7 entail a fair amount of expense and

work. Tlio .speaker claimcci. howevor, that tho Lyttelton King George V. Seamen's Institute hhd so justified its existence in the p.ist that tlie general public <)F Norb'li. Oantorbni'.v would not fail to do their part toward K^rig a, little cheer and help to the naval and

merchant seamen and officers, who were of so much importance to the Empire at this particular time, and who were doing 'their part so nobly and well. In concluding, Mr Miller made an appeal for a sum that " would be a credit to Ashburton," which he said had subscribed so magnificently of recent months. . Mr Booth, spoke of the work of the society from a national aspect. Hbsaid the work had started in the year 1818 on old' "Father" Thames, in London. Only a few had been present, at the gjiitial meeting, but from those had sprung the present very large and useful institution. Although the society had been undenominational, the officers of the Port of London Society, as it had been called in the'early days, had been ■■greatly-helped by the'clergy of the various churches. Later,- when the Earl of Fife had seen; that tho society was bound to become a large institution, he had moved in the direction of having the title altered to the present one.; The work had / spread : from London to all the ports of the United Kingdom and the Continent. Thus, by degrees, the society had been established all over the world until it | was one of the biggest societies of its kind in the world. The speaker dwelt on the dangers risked by the seamen of the ships that carried New Zealand's produce to the other ends of the. earth, and said that in regard :to the men on the New Zealand-; warship nt • the Dardanelles the society wanted tdibe a-ble. tosend these men a present at '.Chrktmas'time: The "society he represented appealed to Ashburton to give during the present week a sum of £500 to the Institute. It would .be known as Ash burton's gift., Ashburton was the centre of a rich district, and could well afford to give. > Some of those present would like to feel.that if they had a son or a. brother on somo ship—merchantman or warship—that he 'could go to souie place where he would be cared for and watched over when in a foreign port.

Mr Badger nlso addressed the audience, basing his remarks on (1) the religious side, (2) the temporal, and (3) the commercial side. He gave many examples of the rescuis. worn among the seamen being carried on by the society.

The usual votes of thanks were carrie"d prior to the meeting being closed with prayer by the Rev. F. Oldnevo. \ In the course of the evening the following musical programme was submitted:- —Pianoforte solo, Mrs J. Forrester, Mus. Rac.: solo;. Mr H. S. Gardner; solo. Miss N. Clark (of Lyttelton). >

At the close of the meeting a. little over £7 was subscribed and many substantial'donations were promised. For those who wish to give, subscription's will he received by Mr Ronald S. Radger,"the hon. secretary. 187 Manchester Street; Christchurch, or may bo left at the " Guardian " office.