KING GEORGE'S FUND FOR SAILORS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 96, 16 January 1918, Page 7

KING GEORGE'S FUND FOR SAILORS

HANDSOME SUBSCRIPTIONS

TOTAL OF £210,000 REACHED

A meeting of tho General Council of King George's Fund for Sailors was held on November 8, at tho Trinity House, London. H.R.H. tho Duke of Connaught, who presided, said that ho felt that he might congratulate the fund on tho great progress which had been mado and upon tho cordial reception that had been accorded to it by tho public, although, ho hoped, the support already given was nothing to what it would receivo in tho future. Ho expressed

his confidence as to tho great advanlngo that tho fund must be to tho marino benevolent institutions, and, through them, to the gallant men of tho sea and to their widows and children. His Royal Highness also expressed the conviction that the fund would appeal to Englishmen in a way that no other fund had ever done, aud through it tho wliolo country ivould be ablo to show their appreciation.of tho services of tho Royal Navy, the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and tho men of tho merchant service. In conclusion, His Royal Highuess said that tho work of tho fund had been watched with very great interest by His Majesty the Xing, who, aware of tho benefit that the funds would be to tho sailor und with a desire to mark hie sense of the importance of that fund and tho benefits it would confer upon those to whom we were so much indebted, hat' requested him to announce that the King desired to contribute £5000 towards the admirable work that was being done. This announcement was received with great enthusiasm. Captain A. W. Clarke (deputy-chair-man) said ho was pleased to announce that tho fund Jiad how reached £210,000. The expenses in connection with the raising of this amount wore only one-half per cent., so that for every £100 subscribed by the public £99 10s. would go direct to the sailors. Hβ thought that this constituted a record in tho annals of charity organisation.

Sir Raymond Beck, the chairman of the Finance Committee, then presented a financial report, which was unanimously adopted. , Sir Richard Willinms-Bulkeley, in presenting the report of tho Collecting Committee, stated that tho "Daily Telegraph" appeal continued to render a large measure of material assistance to tho King's Fund, and the Collecting Committee had expressed their thanks in this connection in a letter to Lord Burnham and tho staff of the "Daily Telegraph." Tho Collecting Committeo also wished to take this opportunity of acknowledging their gratitudo to Lloyds Exchango and the Commercial Sale Room, Mincing Lane, the Baltic and the Corn Exchange, all of which had contributed very generously to the King's Fund. Tho co-operation of the clergy was progressing favourably. Tho lead of tho Archbishop of Canterbury, in giving such a large measure of support to tho movement, would no doubt result in n special Sunday being set apart for collections on' behalf or tlio fund.

Tho report was unanimously adopted. Sir Thomas Dcvitb proposed: "That the General Council, in expressing their loyal and humble duty to His Majesty tho Xing, wish also to convoy their most grateful thanks for tho munificent gift of £5000 which it lias pleased His Majesty to make to tho fund which bears his name. The council appreciate that in so doing His Majesty once again emphasises his interest in his sailor population and his desiro that tho nation may liberally and splendidly respond to the appeal which is now being made." In moving tho resolution, Sir Thomas said that this gift of £5000 was ono more instanco of His Majesty's great interest in such work as that which was being undertaken by tho council. Ho personally was of opinion that it would be of great advantage to the sailor and his dependants by preventing overlapping, bad administration and wasteful expenditure on propaganda of tho money subscribed by tho benevolent .public. He was sure that the work of the funa would bo welcomed by all properly conducted and well-organised marine benevolent institutions who looked after the welfare of tho seamen. Lord Sonierleyton, in seconding the resolution, said that he of his own knowledge knew that the King always looked carefully into the economical methods employed by charitable societies to which he gave his support, and His Majesty would therefore be very pleased to know that up_ to date the cost of collection of King George's Fund amounted to only one-half per cent. The resolution was carried unanimously. Captain Sir H. Acton Blake proposed a vote of thanks to H.R.H. tho Duke of Connaught for presiding at tho meeting, and remarked that His Royal Highness, as Master of tho Corporation of Trinity House, was carrying on. its traditions with regard to its close association with all those who go down to tho sea in ships and the various charities which look after the welfare of the seaman and his dependants. As Deputy-Master of the Trinity House, he (the speaker) had been permitted to say that His Royal Highness had increased his subscription (*>■ £500. The fund wa6 greatly indebted to His Royal Highness for the valuable assistance ho had rendei>ed since its inauguration and for his great perEonal service.

Mr. Havelock Wilson, in seconding tho vote, said that he was expressing to His Royal Highness the thanks of the whole- sailor who, he knew, appreciated the action of the general public with regard to tho fund.

The vote passed with enthusiasm. His Royal Highness, in thanking the council for their kind expression of thanks, stated that as Master of tho Trinity House ho hoped for many years to keep up his connection as chairman of tho King George's Fund for Sailors, and added that, his services would always bo at tho disposal of tho council. Contributions may bo sent to H.R.H. tho Duke of Cbiinaught, Trinity House, London, England.