SHIPLOVERS' SOCIETY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22108, 14 May 1935, Page 11

SHIPLOVERS' SOCIETY

ADDRESS BY MR. R. A. FALLA DEVELOPMENT OF WHALING The growth of tho whaling industry from the earliest times was traced by Mr. R. A. Falla, ornithologist at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, in an address at the monthly meeting of the recentlv-formed Shiplovers' Society held in the"main hall of the Flying Angel Missions to Seamen last night. There was a large attendance, the hall being filled almost to capacity. After briefly outlining the importance of the whale in history, Mr. Falla discussed the scientific aspects of the whaling industry and of oil extraction. The industry had dwindled practically into insignificance, said Mr. Falia, until a few years ago, when a group of Norwegian whalers succeeded, after 20 years' efforts, in persuading the Norwegian Government to subsidise them. Since then considerable progress had been made and the output from the Antarctic factory ships had increased enormously. Captain H. H. Sergeant, the harbourmaster, presided at meeting and Lieutenant-Commander T. Lean, 11. N., led in the singing of sea chanties which followed tho address. The meeting concluded with supper, served by the ladies of the Harbour Lights Guild, many old sailors taking the opportunity to exchange reminiscences over their coffee and biscuits. It was decided to forward a message of loyalty to the King 011 tho occasion of his jubilee.