SHIPWRECK RELIEF SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22893, 29 May 1936, Page 15

SHIPWRECK RELIEF SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Shipwreck Relief Society of New Zealand was held in the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. The president (Mr Justice Kennedy) occupied the chair. PRESIDENT'S REMARKS. Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the chairman said that it was satisfactory to note that in only two cases during the past year had the assistance of the society been needed. The society had had, however, a reminder which the people of New Zealand were not likely soon to forget that the perils of the sea still existed, and that there might be a demand on the society's funds which only the immunity of past years would enable it at once to meet. Members hoped that that immunity would long continue, but, if it did not, they must be prepared to meet disaster. It was for that reason that they noted with great thankfulness the receipt of legacies of £450 from the estate of Mre E. L. E. Fenwick and of £155 lis 2d from the estate of Miss Helen M-Leod, of Broad Bay. The report also recorded with gratitude donations from various harbour boards, and the receipt of the proceeds of concerts held on various ships. There had been some changes among the officers of the society, due chiefly to changes of residence. It would be seen that the agents of the society in the various centres* continued to act. Such agents discharged a duty of watchfulness, and were prepared, should there be a wreck, to carry out a tremendous amount of work. The society appreciated their services. Mr E. C. Hazlett, who seconded the motion, also pointed out that the society had been fortunate in the small number of claims that had been made upon it. The agents, he said, had carried out their duties in a spirit of sympathy and understanding that had been of great assistance to the committee. He expressed appreciation of the fact that the Mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox) had shown his interest in the society by attending the meeting. The motion was carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The election of officers resulted as fol-lows:—Vice-patrons, the Prime Minister (Mr M. J. Savage) and the Minister of Marine (Mr P. Fraser); president. Mr Justice Kennedy; honorary solicitor, Mr J. A. Cook; auditor, Mr C. Russell Smith; executive —Messrs E. C. Hazlett. W. Clarke, W. B. Cunningham, G. F. Medlar, C. W. Sundstrum and F. E. Tyson: Captains H. A. Dillner, R. Fraser. Coll M'Donald and J. C. Mac Lean. WELFARE OF SAILORS. ' The president drew attention to the fact that the society had given donations during the year of £IOO to the British Sailors' Society, England, and £3O to the Otago branch of the same society. He stated that the executive was well satisfied that this money would be expended in the best interests of British sailors. The Rev. T. Miller, chairman of the local branch of the British Sailors' Society, expressed appreciation of the grants. He .stated that his reading of history showed that there had been a time when shipwrecked sailois who had escaped death had been robbed and that, in Devon, efforts had even been made to entice ships on the rocks. There had also been a Scottish superstition that ill fortune would overtake anyone who rescued a sailor from the deep. He thought that it was evidence of the influence of Christianity that such a state of affairs should have been altered and that a society such as the Shipwreck Relief Society should exist. MAYOR'S APPRECIATION.' The Mayor expressed admiration of the work of the society. He noted that _it was a New Zealand society and that its affairs had been controlled in Dunedin for over 30 years. This was appropriate in view of the fact that the shipping lines of New Zeuland had been established in Dunedin. He thought that the diminishing number of claims on the society's funds was due to the greater safety of travel, but the Dominion was growing, and increasing trade would bring a greater number of ships to its_ shores. He noted that both bequests received bv the society had been made by Otago residents, and he thought it might be sucaested that people of other parts of the Dpminion might remember the society in their wills. He commended the spirit of preparedness in which the society had conserved its funds for any disaster that might overtake travellers by sea.