SHIPWRECK RELIEF

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 62

SHIPWRECK RELIEF

ANNUAL MEETING OF SOCIETY. The annual meeting of the Shipwreck Relief Society of New Zealand was held in the Council Chambers on Friday afternoon, there being present: His Honor Air Justice Kennedy (president), Alessrs G. L. Denniston, R. S. Black, E. C. Hazlett, S. K. Sleigh, Bruce Anderson, \V. Clarke, E. Dow, and Captain Fraser. In moving tire adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the president stated that the society had now been in existence for 29 years. Its continued policy’ had been the accumulation of a fund, and this policy alone made it possible to expend on two major wrecks during the past two years the sum of £4OOO for necessary relief. The very essence of such assistance was that it should be prompt and available at once anywhere in New Zealand. That aim could be achieved only by having a live organisation, which, of course, existed, and by having funds which were immediately available. The latter the society would continue to have if its contributions did not fall. This year, as formerly, the society was indebted to the officials, officers, and men of the Union Steam Ship Company and the Huddart-Parker Company for the contribution of the proceeds of concerts which had been organised to augment the society’s funds. During the year a contribution had been received from an entertainment on the Tahiti, and in the saine year the society had expended £B6O on the relief of sailors and passengers when that vessel sank at sea. It was improbable that the wreck of two such vessels as the Tahiti and Manuka in two successive years would occur again, but it._ showed that the sea was a dangerous and uncertain element', and was sufficient proof that at some time or another there would be cast on their shores sailors and passengers requiring relief. . He was pleased to think that the society was able to afford such relief, but if some persons thought that the society’ had a more than sufficient margin of funds for continuing such assistance, that was a very’ narrow-minded view. The annual report spoke of the work of the society’s volunteer agents throughout New Zealand, and those who had been freed from the burden of controlling the society’s operations in other parts of the country had not failed to observe and appreciate the activities of those volunteer workers. Air R. S. Black, in seconding the motion, spoke of the widespread effects of the society’s work, and supported the president’s contention that the society could not have too large a margin of funds to meet contingencies. The report was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:—Patron, his Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe); vice-patrons, the Prime Alinister (Air G. W. Forbes) and the Postmastergeneral (Mr J. B. Donald) ; president, Mr Justice Kennedy: executive—Messrs W. Clarke. Captain Fraser, E. C. Hazlett, 8. K. Sleigh. D. E, Theomin, H. L. Tapley, Bruce Anderson, G. L. Denniston, and F. Tyson: hon, solicitor. Air J. A. Cook; auditor, Mr C. Russell Smith. A vote of .thanks to the Mayor and city councillors for the use of the Council Chambers for the meeting concluded the business.