FOR SAILORS—NEW MOVE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1174, 8 July 1911, Page 6

FOR SAILORS—NEW MOVE.

TO BFJGHTEN DIUB EVENINGS. IBy Tolcsrfch.-Special Correspondent.! Christchurch, July 7. In connection with tho proposal to establish in Lyttelton a properly-equipped sailors' institute, an active canvass for funds has been in progress during tho past few weeks, and tho ' representatives of the Lyttelton branch of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society have met with a gratifying response. A fairly largo sum' is now in hand. Tho question has teen raised as to whether the proposed institute is really wanted in Lyttelton in new of the fact that tho Harbour Board has, for years past, maintained tho institution known as the Sailors' Home, in conjunction with which is a Sailors' Rest. At times, tho "floating population" on board ships in Lyttelton numbers between 500 and 10110 men, and, as. matters stand at present, these men arc left, to their own devices in their leisure timo ashore. A number of shipmasters, officers, and engineers told a representative of the "Press" to-day (hat they were strongly in favour of a sailors' institute. The officers of one tramp steamer stated that they were astonished to find no institute in such a busy port. They had been a week in Lyttelton. they were strangers in a strange laud, and their evenings had been very dreary as there was no place where they could find recreation or amusement. Captain C. H. Kempson, K.N.R., commander of tho Athenic, expressed himself very strong!v in favour of tho proposed institute. Speaking from his long seagoing experience, ho said that the sailor or the fireman of the present day was a much more decent man than his forerunner of ten or fifteen years ago. In his own ship he had a crew of nearly 150 men. the majority of whom were quite vcspectahlo and sober. On his present voyage, he had not observed one case of drunkenness or bad conduct. Many members of his crew wcro lads or young men, and quite a number of them had been in the ship for several voyages. Naturally, when they were in port, they looked for some quiet recreation or amusement, and they always appreciated the many elforts made on their behalf in that, direction. Lyttelton was almost the onlv port, of any size whero his shin called that had not got a properly-equipped Sailors' Institute, and he would be very pleased to see such a placo provided.