HOSPITALITY TO CREW

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 70, 15 December 1932, Page 8

HOSPITALITY TO CREW

Wrecked Southern Cross MISSION BOARD DECISION Dominion Special Service. Auckland, Dec. 14. Letters of thanks are to be sent to the two white residents on the island of Aneityum, Messrs. Park Wilson and Freeman, who showed great hospitality to the officers of the motor ship Southern Cross, which was wrecked on the island recently. A decision to this effect was made at a meeting of the mission authorities. It was stated that the interest taken by Messrs. Wilson and Freeman in the welfare of the castaways was much appreciated. It was also decided that letters of thanks should be sent to Drs. McLeod and Legrosdidler, on the island of Tanna, to the British Resident Commissioner at Vila, Mr. J. G. Joy; to the staff of the Presbyterian Mission Hospital at Vila; and Judge Carey, of the Condominium Court, at Vila. The mission authorities gave long consideration to the position of the crew of the wrecked vessel. It was understood that the legal position required that the men should be paid up to the date of the wreck, but while they recognised the fact that they were trustees for moneys subscribed for missionary work in the South Seas, the committee felt that reasonably generous treatment under such special circumstances would meet with the approval of all concerned. It was finally decided that the whole of the crew should be treated as being on full pay uutil December 31, and that each man should bo repatriated to the port at which he signed on—some of the mon joined the ship at Auckland and others in England—at the expense of the mission. It was further decided that each man should be given money to provide himself with necessary clothing.