SHIPWRECK RELIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23202, 28 May 1937, Page 7

SHIPWRECK RELIEF

SOCIETY'S ANNUAL REPORT The thirty-fourth annual report of the Shipwreck Relief Society of New Zealand, to be presented at the annual meeting on Thursday next, states that it was again pleasing to record that the past year had been free from any serious shipping disaster. During the year the society offered relief to the extent of £227 13s Bd, as under:—Crew s.s. Abel Tasman, £l4l lis 9d; crew m.v. Kaiaia, £23 17s 6d; crew scow Kapua, £9 7s 8d; crew scow Tamahae, £l2 15s 6d; additional relief launch Mokau, £25 Os 9d; dependent crew, Rangi, £ls Os 6d. A donation of £lO 10s was made to the Otago branch of the British Sailors' Society. To the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, Ltd., the society was indebted for the sum of £B6, being donations made by passengers on board the company's steamers, including the sum of £ls,' being share of the collection made for the inspection of the Orient Company's Orion at Wellington The committee also acknowledges donations from harbour boards amounting to £59 12s, and a donation of £2 5s from the master and crew of the s.s. Gabriella. The balance sheet showed the society to be in a very satisfactory financial position, but it had to be recognised that a serious shipping disaster would deplete its funds, and showed the necessity of the society being in a position to meet such a case. Great credit had to be given to the founders of the society for their wisdom in establishing an organisation that was in a position to afford immediate relief to those unfortunate enough to be shipwrecked, as it would be realised that help in such cases required to be made promptly, and sufferers by shipwreck would be in a most unfortunate position were there not such a society to come to their assistance without any delay.