DISTRESSED SEAMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18212, 4 October 1922, Page 10

DISTRESSED SEAMEN.

ASSISTANCE FROM UNION. ADMINISTRATION OF FUNDS. [BY I'ELEGBAPH.—FRE3S ASSOCUfHONT.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The Seamen's Union has that future fiands raised for the relief of distressed members shall be administered by ■ the union as the union considers the funds subscribed for this purpose should be used to tide a member or his dependents over their difficulties. Some' little time ago. £127 was contributed by seamen on behalf of an elderly comrade in the South Island. In accordance with custom, the whole of the money was handed over in one sum. Recently the body of the assisted member was found in Lyttelton Harbour, and when hia will was opened it was discovered that he had left all his money (including the amount received from the union) to a well-to-do person in another part of the Dominion, who had befriended him some years before by lending him the small amount of £1, when he was " hard up." In future all subscriptions raised will be placed tj the credit of the union. The executive will pay to a distressed member, or his dependents, a sum not exceeding £4 weekly, until the total amount received by way of subscriptions is exhausted, or until the executive resolves that there is no further need to provide assistance. Any balance standing to the credit of the subscription list shall be retained by th« union in a special fund to be used for relieving any other cases of distress).