SAILORS' SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 9, 10 July 1931, Page 11

SAILORS' SOCIETY

WELLINGTON BRANCH

INCREASED .ACTIVITY

A jedr of increased acthHy was recorded in tlio lepoit piesonled by the honoraiy seeretmy (Mr. B. Padni.m) , at the annual meeting of the Welling-1 ton blanch of the British fcailois' So-j ciety, which was held in the Concert Cliambei, Town Hall, last evening. Tlicie was a good attendance, ineliul mg Their Bvcelleneies Loid and Lady Bledisloe, bir Michael Myers (Cliici Justice), who was in tho chaii, Ljch ATuts, and fen John and Lady Luke. The ioporttt.tci.lcd that the jeai had been one ol tho most sucuessUil since the inception oi: the blanch. Tlie total number of nieu who had visited the looms was 26,082, as compared with 20,077 dining 1029. Those iiguies showed how popular tho rooms weic with the men on the ships. In this connection tho voluntaiy workeis were heartily thanked for their efforts : during tho busy year. Ships visited totalled 794, conceits and picnics had been held regularly, and the men on the Swedish whaling ships and the Dutch warships weio entertained. Men in hospital woio visited by Mis. Ciaig, who had been canying on the woik for 27 years, and magazines and books had been placed on board the-various vessels." [Refreshments had been provided for the men visiting the rooms, and many beds and meals had been made available. ' The report of tho Port' Missioner (Mr. K"oel S. Slyfield) reviewed the Gospel, mission, and leligious work conducted in connection with the bianch. Sir Michael Myeis lead a letter from the geneial secietary of the society at Homo expressing appreciation of the valuable woik being dono by the branch, and trusting that it would continue. The chaplain in London and Mr. E. Now man, chairman of tho TCew Zealand Sheepowners' , Acknowledge ment of Debt to British Seamen Fund, also wrotOt conveying good wishes. Among the> many apologies was one from the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop). After expiessing plcusuio at the presence of Their Excellencies, Sir Michael Myers said it was singularly appropriate that Lord Blodisloe' should be present. 110 understood it was the first occasion on which a Governor-General of New Zealand had been present aL any meeting of the branch, but the parent society, was under tho patronage of Iho Royal Family, and a former Gov-ernor-General in Earl Jellicoo was one of the vice-presidents. Although the Wellington branch was celebrating the attainment of its majority, the parent society was about 118 years old. The work had started in,J\*e\v; Zealand more than 21 years ago u"t Lyftolton, but owing to Wellington's goographical position the activities hero _wcro much gi eater than in any other part of New Zealand. The'success •of the blanch lay in the happy medium that, was stmck in the i elation between its social nnd spiiitual activities. It was necessary in such a society that tho two tilings should go* hand in hand, with neither suboidinated to" the other. The marvol to him was that so- much had been dono on such a small .incoiiie. 110 was afraid that what had' been done had only been made possible by the woikeis, instead of putting their hands into other people's pockets, to a greater extent putting them, into then own. That should not bo. Ho was afraid that the supporters and helpers wero very laigely to blame in. not making the activities of the society better known. Sir Michael paid.a tribute to tho secretary and the Various helpers. Tho mofion'iwas seconded by the president (Mr. O.D. Morpeth), tyho noid he thought tho time was not far distant when a permanent home would be built to moot the demands npon the bianch. lie thanked among others the T. G. Maeaitliy tiustecs, the clergy^of Wellington, and-'the Salvation Army for financial and other assistance given. ■ His .^Excellency's 'Teniaiks - are reported "elsewhere. '■'.'. '-, Other'speakers were "the Bcv.'j. ft. Blanchard, .who-also, led .the.meeting in prayer, a,ndr Commissioner «f. Cunningham (Salvation, 'Auiiy) ; who , pronounced tho, Beuodiction.j Items^wcio given by, Alias C. Young, Miss Gracie Korr, Mr. ,W. Through, Mr. Chun Yean Tai, and Ihc Port Nicholson Silver Baud.