SAILORS' SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 74, 28 March 1930, Page 9

SAILORS' SOCIETY

WELLINGTON BRANCH MEETING

Mr. C. D. Morpeth presided at the annual meeting o£ the British SailorB 1 Society last night in'the absence of the Minister of Marine (the Hon. J. t G. Cobfae), who was to have taken the chair, but who unfortunately had had to leave Wellington on urgent business connected with his office. Proceedings were opened with prayer by the port missioner (Mr. 2T. S. Slyfield). The secretary (Mr. B. Padnian) and the port missioner each read their reports, which were adopted, together with the balance-sheet.. •,The.record,of Goßpel and religious work as set but by Mr. Slyfield, who undertook the duties of port niissioner when Mr. H. Jackson retired, showed that this (branch of the society's work had been quite satisfactory. The chairman referred to the deaths of three valued members of the society. Miss Mabel Wilson, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and Mr. J. Cr. Harkness, all of whom had had the interests of the sailors very much, at heart. Captain Hale Monro, who has been elected to take Mr.,Harkness's place as vice-president, iyas: introduced to the gathering by the chairman,: and'^received a very warm welcome, his- humorous reference to -the - days when he served before the mast and sailors, earned' £2 10s a month being fully appreciated by the seamen present. His Excellency, the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, having consented,'to fill the office, he was elected patron of the society, the other officers elected for this 'year being as follow:—Vice-patron, tTie Eight Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, Prime 'Minister; president, Mr. C. D; Morpeth; vice-presidents, Sir James Allen, the Right Hon. J. ,G. Coates, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Captain Monro, Mr. Slyfield, and Mr. W. H. Armstrong; treasurer, Mr; H. A. Gold; auditor, Mr. W. E. A. Kellow; secretary, Mr. B. Padman; port missioner, Mr. N. S. Slyfield; convener entertainments, Mr. W. H. Armstrong; Hospital visitor, Mrs. Craig; deputy Hospital visitor, Mrs. A. Brown: pianists, Mrs. Padman and Miss Weston; committee, Mrs..Padman, Mr. Ede, Misses Anderson, Weston, Finney, Messrs. Ede and Brown. • . :' .'■ The work of the society is entirely voluntary, no honorarium being paid to any one worker. A very excellent musical programme was opened and closed with orchestral items, the individual performers being Mrs. Miller, Miss Standen, Mr. M'Donagh, Mr. Val Jones (promoter of the concert, to whom a vote of thanks was passed), Miss Esme Crow, Mr. Brown, Mr. Norris. and Mr. O'Hagcn. Miss Samson and Mrs. Power werethe accompanists. Supper was served before the meeting closed. A good number of sailors were present, and a member of the crew of; the Corinthic, on behalf of his shipmates, especially thanked the society for what it Tiad <lone for them.