WORK FOR SEAMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 133, 8 June 1942, Page 7

WORK FOR SEAMEN

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE PRAISED

-High -praise 'for the'worft' of the Wellington Catholic Seamen's Institute was expressed by speakers at the annual meeting of the institute yesterday. Among the speakers were his Grace Archbishop O'Shea, the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser), and the United States to New Zealand (BrigadierGeneral P. J. Hurley). "Others present were the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones), the Consul-General of Poland (Count K. Wodzicki), the ConsulGeneral of the Netherlands (Mr. M. F. Vigeveno), the Rt. Rev. Monsignor T. Connolly, the Rev. Dr. N. Gascoigne, and Mr* A. J. Ridler. The president. Mr. C. Mallia, presided. i,

The institute had done a tremendous amount of good work for the seamen of all countries passing through Wellington, said the archbishop, and he had heard of its excellent reputation when he was in London. He expressed his gratitude to the Government and the patriotic organisation for their assistance, hnd said it was quite clear that everybody recognised that the institute was doing splendid work. "I congratulate you and I'm very proud of you," he said to members.

Adding his congratulations, the Prime Minister said that Mr. Vigeveno had asked him to thank the institute for the hospitable welcome given by it to Dutch and Javanese sailors, whether they were of the Catholic, Protestant, Mohammedan, or-any other religion. Mr. Fraser spoke of the New Zealand Government's appreciation; of the institute's work, which he said was of great value in peacetime and ten times as important in wartime. The war was coming closer to us, and as it did so it brought a greater appreciation of the risks run on our behalf by the seamen. Mr. . Fraser said he could imagine nothing more heroic than the quiet persistence with which merchant sailors signed oh again after having their ships, sunk under them by the enemy. Such men as' those were now bringing cargoes upon which the nation's life depended, cargoes more precious than had ever come into this country before, and in caring for those men the institute was performing a splendid work. General Hurley gratefully acknowledged the hospitality . extended to American seamen. "These young men who are sailing the seas, men who are bringing war supplies into this area." he said, "are offering themselves to the cause of victory just as much as the man who attacks the enemy in the air or on the field."

"These seamen, and especially the men of the Merchant Navy, are the salt of the earth," was Dr. Gascoigne's tribute. He praised the work done for the institute by the president, Mr. Mallia, for the last 23 years, and referred to the heroic fortitude of Mr. Mallia's birthplace, Malta.

Mr. Ridler congratulated the Wellington Institute on behalf of the New Zealand Apostleship of the Sea.