WORK AMONG SEAMEN.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 274, 18 April 1918, Page 14

WORK AMONG SEAMEN.

Supt.: Mrs Ninimo. Work among seamen is almost entirely restricted to the crews yt oversea vessels, which visit the larger ports of the Dominion, where there are well-equipped organisations specially devoted to this work. 1 he crews of our local steamers have their homes at the ports most convenient to them. Available opportunities, however, have been seized, and with good lesults. The work at Grey mouth has been carried on with vigour, but owing to a strike among the crews of locallyowned steamers, these vessels were for some time laid up, and the “Rest” closed. Advantage was taken of this for effecting repairs, and a complete renovation of the building, at a cost of £l5O. A Sale of Work has materially helped to pay tins, leaving a small debt still standing. Tiraaru reports few oversea vessels in port. The crews of visiting *hips have eagerly availed themselves of the facilities for writing, reading, and games. Socials have been always given when the larger vessels have been in port. Warm expressions of appreciation and letters of thanks for the homely “Rest” and what was done for their welfare, have been received. During the year, 4<n men made 1215 visits to the “Rest.” Napier has done spec ially good work during the year for the minesweepers and their dependents. In June and August cases were sent to London, containing 26 dozen .irtic les, through the* Wellington Naval De pendents’ League. In October, in response to my appeal, a case of waim clothing was sent, valued at ,£52. Pahiatua supplied 54 comfort bags and 54 needle books, equally divided between the Wellington and Lyttelton Societies. Kaiapoi also supplied comfort bags to Lyttelton. Wellington has co-operated with the local branch of the British and Foreign Sailors’ Society, both by money contributions and assist at the free Sunday teas. It may be stated here that since the closing of hotel bars at six o’clock there has been a most apparent improvement in the condition of sailors. The Society’s “Rest” is much more largely attended in the evening, when tea and coffee is now provided free. As a further effect, the police have no trouble as formerly, men return to their snips sober, and are more efficient in work. Six o’clock closing of bars is in Wellington a distinct success, so far as sailors are concerned I made an appeal for warm clothing for our mine-sweepers and the crews of torpedoed ships. The response by our Unions and the public in goods

,ind money r.ix been ically splendid. Lovely garments of the value of U" fid were revived, and cash to the sum of /J 557 14s, of whith £ 11; iNx (>d came Iroiu other sources. A detailed statement will be found in the “White Ribbon issue for December and January. i very s • r w elv thank the l nions for their heart) and successful co-operation, and rejoice that oui united efforts have resulted in a worthy gift to those men of the sea to whom the hmpire, in her time of great peril, owes a reat debt of gratitude.