APOSTLESHIP OF THE SEA

Kaikoura Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 37, 12 May 1947, Page 2

APOSTLESHIP OF THE SEA

DONATION OF £5 5/- MADE BY DAIRY COMPANY.

The directors of the Kaikoura Cooperative Dairy Company have made a donation of £5 5/- to the Apostleship of the Sea for the work among Royal Navy and merchant seamen.

In a letter from the secretary of the New Zealand Council (Mr Al. Rafter), an appeal was made as fol-

“ Since was last wrote you about a year ago, seamen of the Royal and Merchant Navies have maintained theii solid and nigh-silent service. About (50 ships have been lost or seriously damaged by war-strewn mines, a number of ships have been lost through seahazards, and an uncounted number of seanien-husbands or sons have met death or lost, through disaster, most of their wordly possessions. Some of these latter, and the remainder, have carried on in an occupation which entails such continuous isolation from families and companions, which presents to many hardships, and which prevents the natural pleasures enjoyed by the average man. But upon the efficient performance of such service, despite dangers and hardships of any type, the prosperity and even the very existence—as a British possession—of New Zealand so vitally depends, as does also every business of any kind and every assset of any form within the Dominion.

“The nature of the services rendered and work done by our members (all in unpaid capacities) and that the benefits are available to all seamen without religious or other discrimination, is known to you by now. We will simply quote the results at December 3i last, and confidently trust to the proven generosity, understanding, and sympathy of your directors to continue the practical assistance formerly granted. Ships visited 5013, visits to those ships 8787, seamen visiting clubs 186,203, books issued 126,616, entertainments arranged 2994, outings organised for seamen 254, knitted comforts issued 4648, visits made to hospitals 12,492, home hospitality accepted 5289, suppers provided 127,334.

“Such minor services ns letters posted, games supplied, board arranged, cash relief in proven necessitous cases, etc., are omitted. “May we, sorrowfully, add that to so many people conclusion of hostilities brought the thought that seamen’s needs also had ended. Unfortunately for our work and for the seamen, donations, upon which w r e wholly depend, have reduced or ceased ip many cases, and even among those few of the dairy companies to whom in previous years our appeal, has been directed. Possibly this latter was due to omission rather than intent, but the effect upon our funds is the same.”