DEBT TO BRITISH SEAMEN

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 58, 9 March 1923, Page 5

DEBT TO BRITISH SEAMEN

MEETING OF FARMERS.

The second annual meeting of the New Zealand Sheep Owners' Acknowledgment of. Debt to the British Seamen Fund was held yesterday afternoon, Mr. Edward.Newman, chairman of the board of trustees, presiding.

Commenting on the annual report, extracts from which are published elsewhere, the chairman spoke of the valuable services rendered during the period under review by the officers, referring particularly to Captain F. A. Macindoe, the honorary adviser, Mr. T. R. Lees, honorary treasurer, Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp,' Mr. Alex. Macintosh, and others. Dealing with finance,- he remarked that it could not be said the working expenses were excessive, especially when consideration was .given to the amount of money handled. A sum of £30,000 had been forwarded to England for the relief of sailors whose earning capacity had been reduced as a result of war services The treasurer, who was in England, reported that the fund ■ was being most efficiently administered in London, and that was a matter for great satisfaction. Ho suggested that a letter should be sent to Sir James Allen on behalf of. the trustees expressing appreciation of the thankß for his services.

Captain Macindoe expressed thanks to the farmers of the Dominion for the assistance they had rendered to the fund, and said he could, speak for the gratitude the recipients felt at the help afforded them, by the fund. The trustees had done noble work in the administration of the moneys. ' He made particular reference to the work of Mr. Newman, and remarked that the Merchant Service Guild felt specially indebted to him for his services in- regard to providing for. the dependents of seamen who had lost their lives arid were badly wounded in the war.

Mr. Newman stated, .in" reply, that there was no other similar fund in the world organised for the same humanitarian purpose.- He disclaimed individual responsibility for the inauguration of the' fund, and said that the farmers of the Dominion were really the ones to be thanked. . .........

Mr. G. L. Marshall said that thanks were principally due to Mr. Newman,, a stateynent which the other members present ' applauded.: ' ' ■'■ ■ :