SAILORS’ RESTS

Evening Star, Issue 20982, 22 December 1931, Page 9

SAILORS’ RESTS

.APPEAL FOR SPLENDID SERVICE [Contributed.] The local committee of the British and Foreign Sailors’ Society has felt it its duty to place before the public of Dunedin the various activities in connection with the sailors’ rests. The local rest is situated in Rattray street, within a few yards of the wharf, and is a fairly large, commodious hall, it is open daily, and is primarily for the use of all seamen in port. Monthly magazines, periodicals, and the daily papers are laid out for the perusal of all who desire to read. Writing desks and free stationery are placed at their disposal, and the seamen may write in the comfort and quietness which is necessary when corresponding. During the winter time the fires are kept .going, so that the rest always presents an attractive, cheery appearance. Here it is that the trap value of a “ home away from home ” is felt. 'With no friends or relations in port and not knowing the town, the seamen have a place of comfort provided for them. The work is maintained by the assistance of the honorary missioner, Mr W. Buchan, and members of the executive, who have done their work in this particular part for many years, some having been actively engaged for thirty-five years. , _ , . With regard to the Sailors Rest m For Chalmers, much the same may be said. The services of the hon. missioner and his wife, Mr and Mrs D. L. K. Walker,-and others have brought success in this centre. Perhaps more shipping comes to Port Chalmers than to Dunedin, and the result is that _ a greater amount of work falls to the nnssioner in respect to his powers of entertaining his callers. The _ rest in Port Chalmers is situated quite _ near the wharves, and - when once inside it presents a very nice and inviting picture. One need only ask a seaman the value of such an institution to find out the real appreciation of these gratuitous services. When there are vessels m the port the rest is opened in the evenings, and the members of the executive are there to attend to their seafaring friends. Some very interesting men of extensive travel are frequently niet, and one feels that a bond of friendship arises when one has been privileged to extend one’s hand in fellowship to them. Supper is provided by ladies on such occasions, which, together with the congenial atmosphere, is much appreciiated by all. . . , ' At Christmas time it is tho general practice t? give each seaman a bag with a few necessities in it, such as needle, wool, cotton, buttons, safety pins, patches, and educational hooks. These presents have proved a great boon to the recipients, and years later, when again in Dunedin, the seamen have expressed their thanks repeatedly. His Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe), speaking at the annual meeting of the Wellington branch of the society a few weeks since, in the course of an address which was specially encouraging to our friends in that port, made an appeal for additional financial support, and said: “In such times we ought to remember this, especially when we are supporting a society that does so much for seamen in distress: that, though through trade depression and heavy taxation our incomes > may be materially less, the call for assistance in connection with such an organisation as this is greater than ever. If it is praiseworthy to contribute to such a good cause—which is the work of God —in times of prosperity, it is ten times more praiseworthy and noble to make the additional sacrifice when times are as they are now. Let ns make that special sacrifice.” . His Excellency’s eloquent appeal is appropriate, not only in. Lew Zealand, but in all parts of the British Empire, and may bo commended to all who may read this article.