WORK OF SAILORS’ HOME

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 359, 21 May 1928, Page 14

WORK OF SAILORS’ HOME

NEED FOR MORE MEMBERS At present there are 50 members Of the Auckland Sailors’ Home, exclusive of life members, says the report to be presented at the annual meeting of the society on June 13. It is believed possible to enrol 1,000 members in the city and province. Last year 11,233 seamen, o.r a daily average of 30 men, were lodged at the home, as against a total of 12,172, and an average of 33 during the previous year. The total contributions for board and lodging, including casual meals and beds, was £2,322 16s 6d, an average of £1 6s lOd a week a man. Other receipts during the year include interest £362, an increase of £6 over the previous year, and subscriptions and donations £64, an increase of £ll. In addition to these sums the home received a bequest of £IOO from the late Sir Henry Brett and a contribution of £3,000 from the Savings Bank. The year’s working resulted in the loss of £B3. During the year the City Council raised the rates nearly 60 per cent., making the institution responsible for £ 4 a week. The president, Mr. G. W. Sanders, and Mr. Potter appeared before the court and fought the increase, but without success. The City Council was also approached and petitioned, but while the Mayor and deputymayor wer© sympathetic, the councillors refused to give any rebate. Concluding, the report states that much had been done to renovate the building, parts of which, for a long period, had been almost uninhabitable. A sustained effort had been made to collect money. There was still much to be done.