DEBT TO SEAMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1944, Page 7

DEBT TO SEAMEN

-APOSTLESHIP OF TJ^E-SEA

Appreciation of the Avork being done for seamen by the Apostleship of the Sea Avas expressed by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) and other speakers at the annual meeting of the Wellington branch this week. Mr. C. Mallia (president of tlie institute) presided, and there were also present his Grace Archbishop O'Shea, the Hon. F. Jones, the Mayor (Mr. W. Appleton) and Mrs. Appleton, the Naval Secretary (Captain W. J. G. Prophit, R.N.), Count Wodzicki (Consul-General for Poland), the Hon. V. Ward, Miss Eileen Duggan, and Mr. A. J. Ridler (national president of the Apostleship of the Sea). Mr. Mallia spoke of the very successful year Avhich the institute had experienced, and stated that no feAver than 21,749 seamen of various nationalities had been entertained during that period. Archbishop O'Shea spoke of the great intebtedness of- this 'country to the heroic men of the Merchant Navy, and he rejoiced that the institute A\*as performing such fine work in providing them with wholesome entertainment in so Christian an environment. The Prime Minister - congratulated the institute upon the magnitude of its Avork in the interests of the men of the Allied navies as Avell as of the Merchant Navy. Mr. Fraser said that during his recent stay in London, it Avas most heartening to note the Aveekly report to the War Cabinet revealing, as each one did,-the growing mastery of the U-boat menace. The reports revealed a rapidly-diminishing loss of Allied shipping. Mr. Appleton also spoke in most appreciative terms of the work of the institute, and remarked that his position as a member of the Harbour Board had brought the value of that work forcibly before his notice. He wished the work continued success. JERVIS BAY HERO. , The Port Chaplain, the Rev. Dr. N. Gascoigne, R.N.Z.N.V.R., dreAV the attention of the audience to the now completed memorial in the institute in memory of Commander Fogarty Fegan, V.C., the hero of the Jervis Bay. Tlie memorial Avas erected to him not only as a great seamen, but as a man of deep religious faith. It Avas a tribute too to all the men of the Merchant NaA'y who had paid the supreme sacrifice. He hoped that in the plans for reconstruction the men of the New Zealand Merchant Marine Avould not be overlooked, and that young NeAV Zealanders would be inspired to folloav the noble calling of the sea by their being provided Avith decent living conditions in the ships, conditions in conformity with the dignity of man. Not always in merchant ships of various countries did such conditions prevail. Our country should aim to set an example. Miss Ena Rapley entertained the audience Avith songs, and a film de-! picting life in Avartime in the Mer- j chant Navy Avas screened. ! Archbishop O'Shea unveiled an oil portrait of the founder of the institute, Mr. C. Mallia, draped Avith the flag of Malta, the birthplace of the founder.