BRITISH AND FOREIGN SAILORS' SOCIETY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8208, 4 August 1915, Page 7

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SAILORS' SOCIETY.

A meeting of ladies interested in the British and Foreign Sailors' Society was held in the Borough Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. The Mayoress (Mrs R. Galbraith) presided over a lair attendance. ■[■■•■.■.

Mr S. Booth, superintendent of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society Mission in Lyttelton, attended the meeting and explained something of the work of the society. \ He mentioned that some 7500 men had passed through the mission last year. The object in view now was to build an institute for "young men training to be officers. The society wanted to cope with these young men. The idea was to protect them from the evils which might befall them if they had to live in hotels while on shore. The society did not want to disclose the amount given in its : first apjjeal here, as it was not as much as it thought it would get from Ashburton. He was not casting any reflection on the Ashburton- people, but he wanted them to give a sum which they would be proud of and which would bear their names. The idea was not ■to make -money out of these ytfung men. They would merely have to pay light board —about. 17s 6d per: week. The-speaker outlined other schemes for the improvement of the society's work, such as a nautical school, where it would be possible for a young man without money, yet possessing ambition, to rise further in-his profession. Mr Booth also spoke of helping to supply comforts for the sailors fighting on the New Zealand ships, such as the Psyche and Philomel, which wore manned Ky men from ,the. Dominion. He asked those present to .help by means <■' of interesting^ otheV > people in the work of the society'/. The society was undenominational, and every man, whatever his creed or party, could gain admission to the Home. His appeal at present was. for .1500,;. Christmas presents, which- lie had promised the Minister of Defence to be sent to the sailors at the front. Mrs Galbraith said that she did not think that the meeting could give a definite answer to the appeal, but they would do all in their power to work up ; interest in the scheme. After a. little more discussion, the meeting adjourned.