PARTY AT LYTTELTON

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25021, 1 November 1946, Page 2

PARTY AT LYTTELTON

SEAMEN’S INSTITUTE VISITED “We would be grateful for gifts of playing cards, magazines, and men’s books, said Mrs G. Mouncer, president of the Lyttelton Ladies’ Guild of the British Sailors’ Society, at a social gathering held at the Seamen’s Institute, at Lyttelton, yesterday. “We do want to enliven flagging interest in the welfare of seamen,” continued Mrs Mouncer, who said that the port of Lyttelton was as busy now as it was during the years Of war, and that the institute was greatly used by officers and men from the ships. Some ships, she said, had libraries, others, notably the tramps, had not. But in all cases the men were grateful for reading matter to take to sea with them, “we have had letters of thanks for hospitality and for literature from Ireland, Wales, South Africa, West Australia—indeed, from almost all parts of the world—so it is clear that the work of the guilds and of the institute is appreciated,” she added. During the ; war, Mrs Mouncer recalled, 17,000 knitted comforts had been supplied to seamen at Lyttelton. In addition, they were given ditty bags and Christmas presents. She commended the Ladies Guilds, mentioning that the Ashburton Guild each year sent a big cake to be cut at the Christmas party, and that Sumner, Opawa, and Christchurch Guilds had done great work in supplying warm comforts for the men. Mrs H. T. J. Thacker, president of the Christchurch Guild, thanked the Lyttelton Guild for the fine work it was doing, and particularly mentioned the members of the Junior groups in Lyttelton and Christchurch. Mr A. K. Dyne, a member of the board of management of the institute, detailed the work he carries out in visiting the ships. The gathering yesterday was arranged to give members, especially new members, of the guild, an opportunity of seeing the institute and learning about its activities. Entertainment was provided by Mrs H. Wyatt and Mrs R. J. McLaren, who presented two amusing sketches.