HAPPY SAILORS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23233, 30 December 1938, Page 11

HAPPY SAILORS

LONELINESS BANISHED CHRISTMAS HOSPITALITY FLYING ANGEL MISSIONS LARGE NUMBERS ENTERTAINED Christmas is a time when one's thoughts naturally turn homeward and it is sometimes a lonely season for the sailor in a foreign port, but every effort is made to make the lot of the visiting sailor a happy one at this time in Auckland, as well as in other seaports of the world, in this connection, the Flying Angel Missions to Seamen play a prominent part and the Auckland branch has succeeded in entertaining a greater number of overseas sailors during this Christmas season than in any past year. Many sailors from abroad have spent their Christmas in Auckland and many more will be here over New Year. It has been a busy time on the waterfront, but the spirit of Christmas has been far from forgotten. Sailors who have previously visited the port and made their own friends have been privately entertained, but a special effort has been made to seek out the newcomer without friends.

Mail and Gifts Distributed J«irge bundles of Christmas mail and gifts from friends and relatives of sailors in far-off lanrls have been distributed on the ships. So that no one should be forgotten, numerous gifts were specially donated to the Flying Angel Missions to be handed on 10 various seamen. The articles included cigarettes and cigarette eases, tobacco, shaving materials, scarves, balaclavas and ditty bags containing handy equipment for tho darning and mending that the average sailor is frequently called upon to do for himself. Motor-car tours to the seenic resorts olose to Auckland have been arranged, and enjoyed by dozens or visiting seamen. A picnic and social proved a particular treat for a large party of sailors and supporters of the mission, while teas and suppers have been given to celebrate Christmas in traditional fashion. Many Christmas plum puddings and cakes, as well as supplies of seasonal fruits, were provided for these functions, more of which will be held over the New Year week-end. Use of Social Facilities Proof of the sailor's thoughts of home is given daily by the use to which the writing room at the mission is put. Dozens of letters have been mailed daily, together with gilt parcels of great and small dimensions. Again, j wide acceptance has been made of the general invitation to seamen to make | use of the social facilities provided by j the mission, where crowds have con- j gregated to play games and exchange j anecdotes from early morning until late j at night over the nast three weeks. ! Expressions of gratitude for the lies- ' pitality of the mission and the public j generally were unstinted by sailors interviewed yesteiday. One man ol long j experience at sea said he had spent | ("hiistmas in many norts, but never felt more at home away from home than in Auckland. Another man of j many rough voyages said he. and many ; like him. had gladly forsaken more i boisterous celebrations, in order to enjoy the tboiigbtf.il Christmas festivities arranged bv the mission. Sailors frequently recalled former Christmas and New ear seasons spent at «ea, and generally sympathised with seamen now at sea and fa r from port.