HELP THE SAILORS!

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 297, 4 September 1918, Page 7

HELP THE SAILORS!

THE MEN WHO HELP TO MAKE NEW ZEALAND ,AND KEEP THE TRADE ROUTES OPEN To discuss ways aiid means for raising funds for tho British and Foreign Sailors' Socioty a, well attended meeting was held in tho chamber 01 the (Wellington, City Council yesterday morning. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided. Among those present were the Minister of Marine, (tho Hon. T. M.' Wilford);. representatives •'of tho' Navy League, Harbour Board, Merchant Service C4uild, Marino Engineers' Institute, and mercantile,and snipping companios.

Introducing Mr. S'. Booth, organiser of the effort, tho Mayor referred in glowing torms to tho eplondid workwliioh had heen done by tho society during its hundred years' existence. Ho had often wondered how it was that in a port liko Wellington- thoy had not an organisation devoted specially to tho interests of the men of tho mercantile marine: ' They had a- sailors' institute, which provided certain needs in tho way of recreation and education,'but hero there was no sailors' home whero a man could so whilst waiting -for another ship. In Stlio''South Island the society had raised close on £40,000 for this appear and the North Island should be able .to"do equally 1 -well. There wero people who asked why; tho needs of'distressed seamen wero not met by ;tho shipping companies, but the present was not the time to 'split straws. Tho assistance was needed, and it was a inatW that touched them very closely. New Zealand ships had been lost by enemy action, and even in New Zealand waters they had seen tho results of■ tho German policy. ••■'■'.

' Mt. ' Booth testified , to' . the good work of tho society in educating and caring for the sailors physically, mentally, and spiritually.'. Now a special effort was ■ needed. Ho had been, surprised to see how little Lady Jellicoe's appeal had been' heeded here, ."but when ho had taken up the matter with business men the response had passed his expectations.' In Cajiterhury £13,000 had been raised, mostly in small sums. The men of the mer-' cnntile.marine, had not had 'tho. same upbringing as those-in tho Army and 7v T avy, but in this war they had stood ■'the test. (Applause.) Tho' public should iremembor with , gratitude how they had stood to their guns, and refused to carry delegates to initiate a peace conference at an inopportuno time. In a matter such as this it was practical help that was wanted. It was no use arguing: who should giveassistance- when men were in the water and had to be helped out. The work of the society in helping to keen tho shipping moving, ho contended," was not being sufficiently acknowledged by business men, who should' give their assistance, even if only because it paid. (Anolause.) ■;.■■'. '...".■'

The Hon. T. M. "Wilford was as'wcl to addross the meoting, >';hiit stated -that he merely wished to show his practical symnathy with the'movement, which he would do his best to help forward. : ■/'■' .■'■-. ".•' ■■•■'.

Mr. H. Baldwin said that as one who had taken his trick at the wheel in the North Sea, it gave him much pleasure to support the movement. Haying spent two-winters in the North Sea he knew the conditions the men had to face. People hero hardly knew therd Was a war on, but their conditions would not be so comfortable as they, were if it' wero not for the men on the ; ships Who kept the trade routes clear. ' It was due to those men that they should at least have somn sharo Jn'the comforts which they helped to provide for others. : Tho Mayor moved that all present form themselves into a committee (with power to; add to their number), • and 1 pledge themselves to do a-11 they possibly could for the appeal. Ho stated that the appeal could not be. made until November, when the efforts for tho British arid \ftalian Red Cross would be over. '.- ' ,

Mr. L. 0. H.-Tripp. said that he iigreed with tho Mayor that if they were to obtain the best results they should make, the appeal in November, so as not to clarfi with the "Our Dn,y" jind Italian Red Cross appeals. Then they would be ablo to obtain the hanistance of tlic committees working for those other causes. Mrs. Hall-Thompson seconded tho Mayor'smntion, statinrj that the Indies'' auxiliary of the Navy. League would ho pleased to assist;.. She reminded those present that Wellington had not entirely overlooked the men of tho mer-cantile-murine, as last year the King George's Fund raised here, amounting

to £3700) was divided equally between the Navy and tho mercantile marine. Sir. C. It. Smith thought a joint effort for the .men of tho Navy and mercantile miirino would be better than an effort ■ confined to tho latter. |' Mr. Booth said that tho British and Foreign Sailors' Socioty met tho wants of men who were- Jiot covered. by tho \Work of tho Navy League. Tho joint appeal had been tried, .lnit it had not been very successful. In reply to ;i question from Mr. A. V. 11. Munro, Mr. Booth said that tho funds were dosired not only to meet tho temporary needs of torpedoed sailors, but also to provide' for widows and orphans iu the future, and'for training boys as officers in tho sadly depleted mercantile marine. Tho motion, of the Mayor wos carried unanimously, and it was decided later to call a meeting' for the purpose of sotting up an executive.