FUNDS FOR SHIPWRECKED SAILORS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 587, 16 August 1909, Page 5

FUNDS FOR SHIPWRECKED SAILORS.

Sir,—'As a frequent traveller by all routes, between' the "colonies and England, I ever contribute my .mite ;at service on board steamer and on other occasions to collections for• the funds.' of. the. several : Shipwrecked Sailors' Societies; but oddly, while; tbinkingV back .for- some 25 years, r have seldom or never!: heard /of assistance rendered by. such associations. This morning's cablegrams tell,us of concerts given to'aid those saved' from the Maori, jbut. one would hayo expected.'to have been told that the South African Association'had supplied fresh kits and contributed to the poor men's urgent needs.'; The other week five emaciated unfortunates, -rescued from the Middlcton Reef, reached Sydney. Certain assistance had been given bv the passengers and officers pf the rescuing steamer, but nothing was reported for over a week as doue by the society; - A , newspaper then first mentioned the local, society, and in the connection explaininß, -if my .memory serves'mo aright; that the , society had done nothing for the Scandinavians, and apparently not much more for the British. Now, one would like to know .what becomes of these collections. ■ There'-.are, 1 'I understand, 'local'societies, both in Duncdin and Auckland; how are they constitpted ?'■ Have they ever published amounts, and where is the evidence of the good work they are supposed to do? I hope the;subject is of sufficient importance to .induce , ; you/tp^lend your aid to get somo light thrown upon a question which'-at pre- ■ sent certainly .unsatisfactory.—l am,' 'etc/, _ '/■ !■:'.'■■■' ' : ' ■".:■-.•.../■:.. AUSTRAL. • ; August 12. . . . ■ '.