EMPIRE MEMORIAL HOSTEL

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 23, 27 July 1920, Page 2

EMPIRE MEMORIAL HOSTEL

A WQMEN'S ENDEAVOUR

APBEAL 3?OE £150,000,

(FROM PDB OWIJ CORRESepKDBNT.)

LONDON, 6th May. The, scheme to build a Sailors' Hostel ill the. Empire's greatest port, the Port of London, as a memorial fooni the Em? pare to the splendid men of both sea eeuvices who gave their lives for King and country, is making satisfactory progress, Under the inspiration of the Ladies' Guild of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, women the world over are talc* ing this beneficent endeavouv to their hearts, and thus it stands as the sine qua non of eventual success.

The need for such a hostel is beyond all question, It is estimated that some 16,000 sailors from ali parts of the world have to seek shelter every night in the Port of London, of whom approximately only half have homes or friends, to fro to, " Of the other half only about 4000 find reasonable shelter through various agencies. What of the other 4000?

Everyone acquainted with largo seaport towns knows. The men on landing, as a rule, ha,ye plenty of cash in their pockets, and inevitably become the prey of the crimp and land-shark, and worse may befall them. In the spirit of boys set free for a holiday, after the monotony of a long voyage, these men who make the Empire possible are the easy prey to all^ temptations, against which, the provision of adequate accommodation is the surest safeguard.

The Dominions have already sent substantial help, but more is' required. A letter from "a New Zealand sailor to the society's hostel in Commercial-road reads : "Will you kindly reserve me. a bed at the Palace? I expect to be in port en or about the 26th, and' I do not ■want to be in the difficulty of last time, when I found you full up,' and I ha-d to go to a desperate place. Never again, if I can help it! If I do not arrive; on. the 25th reserve a bed for a day or two, and I -will pay the charge." GHATITUDE—NOT CHARITY. In an .interview the secretary of the Ladies' Guild (Miss Gibbons) said •Hie wives, mothers, and sisters of New Zealand sailors undoubtedly wanted to feel that their men would go to a decent place when they came ashore. The merchant seaman is very well paid now, and was not in need of charity, and certainly did not want. He wanted only a decent meal, a decent bed, and' decent recreation after a voyage, for all of which he was perfectly willing to pay. This triplei necessity lie could not obtain except in a very limited degree. People sometimes said : "Why are. we doing this for the merchant seamen; they are well paid?" Admitted, and they are quits willing to pay for the accommoda^ tion could they get it; they would! reserve their beds for a week, did it make them sure of their getting them, but no reservation could be made of nothing. The slogan of the guild was not charity but gratitude. Some 40.000 men of both services had to be looked after and catered for daily during tire war. Many people, continued Miss Gibbona, are under the impression that all that the merchant seamen did began and endeid with the war. Were they not still facing the dangers of the deep, the exnosnro, discomforts, and privations incidental to seafaring life', to bring one part of the world food and another parj. financial prosperity?; Far aw&y New Zealand realises that only too W?H~ Thescheme of raisi'iTg. £.L9&jX!<lM'the build-, ing and endowment of the hostel owes its Inception to the Dowager Lady Dimedale, and in New Zealand Mis, Masaey is greatly interested and is doing all- she can to- further the object, while the Women's- Christian 'Temperance Union of New Zealand has already contributed a. four figure sum, through Mrs. Hamilton Nimmo. In England Sir Thomas Mackenzie has displayed a lively interest and made public effort on their behalf, whilst his daughter (Mrs. A. V, M'Donald) represents New Zealand on the Memorial Committee.

Misa Gibbons expressed the hope that New Zealand would continue its gen. erous contributions and interest.