MERCHANT SEAMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24773, 25 November 1941, Page 6

MERCHANT SEAMEN

QUESTION OF ENTERTAINMENT

INTEREST OF DUNEDIN R.S.A.

When an inquiry regarding what the association was doing for members of the merchant navy visiting Dunedin was made last night at a meeting of the Dunedin R.S.A.. it was stated that the matter had never been considered. It was pointed out that .the Navy League received grants from the National Patriotic Fund to entertain visiting seamen, who were also provided for by the seamen's institutes. It was suggested that the association might extend the facilities of its clubrooms to seamen from overseas if the need were felt. Members of crews of coastal vessels were considered to be in a separate category, as they had friends and relatives at the various ports at which they called. Members agreed that as few overseas ships now called at Dunedin. the work of enter r taining their crews would not be heavy; The matter was deferred, and the secretary, Mr O. L. Ferens, was Instructed to obtain information on the position. A letter was received from the Memorable Order of Tin Hats in Capetown which detailed the extent to which members of the merchant navy were catered for there. All the facilities extended to members of the fighting forces it was stated, were also open to Allied seamen, who were also allowed to travel free on buses and trams, while they were not charged for admission to sporting fixtures. The city authorities and the South African Government each contributed £6OOO a year for the purpose of providing for seamen, the municipality paying the tramways £ 100 a month to cover free transport. " Should any of the boys from your city call at Capetown, we shall be glad to greet and meet them," the letter concluded.