MISSION TO SEAMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20882, 26 May 1931, Page 5

MISSION TO SEAMEN.

ACTIVITIES OF THE YEAR. NEW BUILDING PROPOSED. HEAVY CALLS ON FINANCES A year of progress will lie reported to the animal meeting of Die Flying Angel Mission to Seamen to-morrow evening. The speakers at the meeting, which will hr followed by a musical programme, will ho the Governor-General Lord Blcdislop, who is patron of the Auckland branch; Archbishop Averill. the president; RearAdmirnl Geoffrey Blake, and Commander E Lyon Berlhon.

In his report the chaplain, the Rev. H. K. Vickery, states that (he work of the institution had been more than justified during the year, but the activities would be greatly assisted were, they, to be carried on in the branch's own buildings. The mission in Auckland had won a good name among merchant seamen and the masters of many passenger ships had assisted bv allotting portions of collections made on board to the funds of the mission. Many letters of thanka from officers, men and parents overseas revealed the wide appreciation of the services rendered bv the institution.

At the entertainments given at the mission about 9200 seamen had been present, and nearly 2300 had attended services, including parades and prayers. There had been 414 visits to merchant ships, 89 to hospital and 15 to the vessels of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Outings, football and cricket matches and entertainments in pf-ivale homes had been arranged.

In his report on behalf of tho executive committee Mr. W. Skegg stated that every effort to secure a site for a permanent homo for Iho mission had been made. It had been agreed to accept the offer of the Sailors' Home Society to transfer the fee simple of a section of land for the mission, in return for which the mission was to erect a hall for the society. After almost a year an agreement had been reached and steps were being taken to secure titlo to the land. The plans of the proposed new building had been approved. When the mission became established in its new home it should take its place as 0110 of the groat social services in Auckland.

"Our liquid assets of £5764 may convey the impression that the mission has more than ample funds for its wprk," the report adds. "It cannot be too clearly emphasised that this is not so. The whole of this sum, and more, will be absorbed in erecting the proposed new building, and the hall has to be built for the society. This will leave us with practically no funds for the effective carrying out of our activities, beyond current donations and subscriptions." The donatious received in the past year showed a decline of £6O. The principal contributions were £ll6 from tho Niagara, £IOO from the estate of the late Hiss Snelling, £SO from the Diocesan Standing Committee, £46 from the Aorangi, and between £25 and £SO from the estate of the late Mrs. I. Hutchinson. The balance in hand at the end of the year was £2O. The report of tjie women's Harbour Lights Guild states that most of the division's bank balance will be absorbed in furnishing the new institute.