Public Opinion BRITISH SAILORS’ SOCIETY APPEAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 213, 8 September 1945, Page 4

Public Opinion

BRITISH SAILORS’ SOCIETY APPEAL

Sir,—As I have again consented to act as convenor for the loca annual Street Day of the British Sailors’ Socle y, I wish to appeal to the city and district to give generously to a funu for the alteration and furnishing of the “Gordon Anderson Sailors’ Hostel’’ in Wellington. As is generally known, lhe late Mr. Anderson was first vicepresident of the socie.y for a number of years and took the deepest interest in the spiritual and material welfare of the men of the sea. On his deathbed he asked that, with the publication of his death in the Wellington papers, there should also be published his i equest that friends, instead of sending costly wreaths, should donate such money to the British Sailors’ Society as the nucleus of a fund to be devoted to the provision, in the capital city, of a residential hos.el for men of the Merchant Navy visiting, or stranded in, our port. A splendid, four-storey building has been acquired in Brandon Street,, but it needs renovating and furnishing •nd Wanganui has been asked to assist in this effort. Last year, our cash contribution amounted to £Bl2, which included many cheques (one from a lady who gave the sale price of her car £301), and so it is with confidence that 1 appeal to our citizens io again show their appreciation of the quiet, unceasing vigilance cf our naval men, who police the cold and lonely seas, in times of peace as well as in times of war, and to whose line courage and adherence to duty we owe much of what is precious to us to-day - -the safety of our island home and lhe unchallenged return of our boys .’rom all theatres of war.

While some of the gallant men of the sea have been thousands of miles from their British homes, bombs have destroyed all that was dear to them houses, families and friends, and, in a number of known cases, they look to New Zealand for friendship and a new beginning. Since many li-’.ve lost all that bound them >o the Old Land, let us see lo it that we endeavour to compensate i them for this Joss, by establishing a home for them, among comfortable