"A FRIENDLY HAND"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 75, 30 March 1939, Page 18

"A FRIENDLY HAND"

SEAMEN IN WELLINGTON

HARBOUR LIGHTS GUILD'S

REPORT

In a large and busy seaport such as Wellington it is essential that some provision should be made for the entertainment and-well-being of itinerant seamen. That a voluntary committee of well-known women has been in existence in the city for many years is not common knowledge, and the work which this auxiliary, which is known as the Harbour Lights Guild, has been doing over a long pariod is on par with that of many of the bet-ter-known charities in Wellington.

Yesterday the guild held -its annual general meeting. The big hall in the Missions to Seamen Institute was decorated with clustered brown and gold heliums, paper bells, and streamers. Mrs. H. St. Barbe Holland presided over an excellent attendance and with her on the stage were the Rev. Archdeacon Bullock (who deputised for the Bishop), Mrs. Harley Brown (president of the guild), Mrs. P. T. Kindred (retiring secretary), and Mr. W. H. Price.

Mrs. Holland welcomed the visitors, and in a brief introductory speech lamented that she herself had not been a frequent visitor to the mission, though she had been kept constantly in touch, with its activities by various members of the committee. She appealed to those in the .gathering who were not in executive positions to rally round the committee and to support the president, Mrs. Harley Brown, in her work.

j The annual report, presented by Mrs. Kindred, showed a year of strenuous activity. Early in 1938 ratings from visiting French sloops were entertained, a successful nautical ball had been held, and a farewell party had been given to Mrs. R. D. Oliver. Money had been raised for a Communion set and this had been duly consecrated by the Rt. R_ev." H. St. Barbe Holland in the mission's small chapel. Committee members had resigned during the year, and Mrs. G. P. H. Davidson, former president, had been granted a year's leave of absence. Throughout the year visiting seamen had been entertained, given meals, and afforded the opportunity of feeling "at home, away from home." The report concluded with a reminder that a nautical ball was planned for next month. LONELINESS AND DRINK. The Rev. Archdeacon Bullock, w/ho moved the adoption of the report, com- j mended the mission's fine work in relieving tho loneliness of visiting seafarers. Loneliness, he said, affected different people in different ways. He was sure the majority of those who deplored the amount of drinking in the city did not realise that many of those who frequented public houses ■ did so, not for the sake of the liquor j alone, but for the companionship which undoubtedly existed in the bars. Though not upholding the merits of I drinking the archdeacon said he did not wholly disapprove of it. Repression, through loneliness, had a terrible effect, and for strangers to the city this was dissipated to some extent by. drinking in the company of others.

The mission was doing a tremendous service in minimising loneliness. It was far more important even than the good meals offered by the ladies, and its work, plus that of the Harbour Lights Guild, was thoroughly justified. "We are all dependent on those who go down to the sea in ships," the speaker said in conclusion, "and we are justified in extending to the sailor the right hand of friendship."

The guild was congratulated on the excellence of its balance-sheet (which showed a surplus of £186 11s 2d) by Mr. W. H. Price, who pointed out that 17,000 meals had been provided during the year at a total cost of £82. The gathering would agree that the work was done very economically, and he was sure that if the guild was run by a men's committee it would not be nearly as efficient or at such small cost. Before afternoon tea was served a musical programme, arranged by Mrs. D. A. Ewen, was presented. Those who took part were Mrs. Cleary and Miss I Mabel Mclntosh, who sang several songs. OFFICERS ELECTED. The election of officers, which resulted in the re-election of almost every office-bearer, was as follows: President, Mrs. Harley Brown; vicepresidents, Mesdames Sprott, D. A. Ewen, Walter Blundell, David Aiken, A. L. Hansell; secretary, Mrs. Gwynn Williams; treasurer, Mrs. P. T. Kindred; committee, Mesdames G. W. Barltrop, Curtis, Cox, Davies, V. R. Gunn, Morten, Mack, W. H. Price, Webb, Graham Robertson, Watkins, and Walton. Mr. G. C. Withers, the hon. auditor, was thanked for his services and unanimously re-elected to office.