CHEQUE FOR LIFEBOAT

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31843, 22 November 1968, Page 20

CHEQUE FOR LIFEBOAT

A cheque for $16,000 was presented to the Sumner Lifeboat Institution yesterday on behalf of the people of Christchurch and surrounding districts by the president of the Christchurch Junior Chamber (Mr E. D. Young). Accepting the cheque at a luncheon, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk), who is president of the institution, said it marked an important milestone for lifeboat services in Canterbury and especially for the Sumner institution. lie thanked the public for so generously supporting the lifeboat appeal and Junior chamber for backing it. The money will be used to buy a replacement for the present Rescue 11. The replacement will be 15 years old, but will have new twin engines. Mr Young said the appeal had been a novel way of raising funds and that the initial expenses had been very high for the printing of stamps, cards and publicity. He thanked Mrs C. Woods, who was present at the luncheon, for first seeking the backing of the Junior Chamber, and all who had in any way assisted.

The institution’s secretary (Mr W. J. Baguley) said that the replacement might reach Christchurch in February or March. Once the new boat was commissioned, Rescue II would be handed to the Kaikoura Lifeboat Institution. Mr Baguley said he had often been asked whether a lifeboat was really necessary. “Records show that upwards of 1000 persons might have perished in the sea in the last 70 years if we had not had a lifeboat.” The photograph shows Mr Kirk receiving the cheque from Mr Young.