SAILORS’ WELFARE.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1922, Page 6

SAILORS’ WELFARE.

LEAD BY THE CHURCH. SOMETHING TO BE tXJNE. The discussion on a proposal by the Rev. E. H. Strong to take an active interest in the social and spiritual welfare of sailors trading to the port of .New Plymouth, by providing an institute at the port for their use, was continued at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki Archdeaconry Board. The bishop (Dr. A. W. Averill) said he was pleased and interested to know that more Home boats were coming, to New Plymouth, and it seemed very necessary and desirable that something should be done for the welfare of the men on these boats. There were, of course, very considerable difficulties ahead. The big boats came here rather intermittently at present, and it hardly seemed an opportune time for the appointment of a special missioner. But an attempt should certainly be made to do something to show the church’s interest in these men. He understood there was a mission room near the port; this might be made into a clubroom, and would be something, at any rate. It had been suggested that a grant should be obtained from the Flying Angel Mission, which had done good work for sailors. In Auckland a sailors’ home room had been used alternately with the British and Foreign Sailors’ Society, holding a service there every other Sunday. However, that building had been burned down, and when the new structure was erected, a satisfactory arrangement could not be made, so another room had to be obtained. This had later to be given up, so that for the last two or three years there had been no club room at all. The missioner was now entertaining some of the men at his own home at Northcote, and held services there.

There was one way of helping, continued the Bishop, by which help could be given in starting some scheme in New Plymouth, and that was by enlisting the sympathy of an enthusiastic body of ladies who would assist in raising funds to build a proper institute. By this means in Auckland a site had been bought, and a sum of over £lOO raised towards a building fund. This was a need that existed at nearly every port.

“I can’t see how it is possible to finance a special missioner at New Plymouth at present,” said the Bishop, “but if we had a second curate for St. Mary’s parish it would solve the difficulty.’” There would be no difficulty, he thought, in getting a committee who would help the proposal and collect magazines, literature, etc., which were always acceptable. The three suggestions that the speaker had to throw out were: (1) That a small committee should be set up at once; (2) use the mission hall as a clubroom; and (3) endeavor to get a grant from the Flying Angel Mission besides enlisting local help. His Lordship expressed every sympathy with the scheme. Mr. W. H. Skinner thought that a second curate, with special work at the port, was necessary for St. Mary’s parish. The speaker mentioned that until recently Mr. Findlay, who had now gone to Scotland, took an active interest in the sailors by supplying them with literature. Mr. Skinner then moved: “That this board feels keenly interested in the welfare of the sailors trading to the t port, and refers the matter of attending to their spiritual s,nd social welfare to the vestry of St. Mary’s Church.” The Rev. G. Young seconded the amendment, which was subsequently carried as the motion.