FOLLOWING on the Conferences of Hcnorary Secretaries already held at Ijlargate in the South-East of England, at Scarborough and Manchester in the North of England, and in London, a Conference of Honorary Secretaries and workers in South Wales was held in CardiS on 3rd February. Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the Committee of Management, presided, and there were present delegates from Cardiff, Barry Dock, Swansea, Newport, Ponty- pridd, Forth, and Pentre. The Con- ference was held in the Council Chamber at the City Hall, and before the business started the delegates were welcomed by the Lord Mayor, Alderman William Grey, President of the Cardiff and Penarth Branch.

In Ms opening address, Sir Godfrey Baring emphasised the importance of increasing the number of annual sub- scribers, and so ensuring for the Service a steady permanent income; the im- portance also of continuing Life-boat Days as a means of appealing to thou- sands of people who, as he knew by personal experience, were very ready to give, but who would not be reached by the appeal for annual subscriptions ; and the importance of keeping in close touch with the Press, which was always ready to help the Institution if it were given interesting information about its work. As showing what still remained to be done in getting annual subscribers, Sir Godfrey Baring gave three examples from among the Welsh Branches. One, with a population of over 50,000, con- tributed last year £260, of which sum £50 was in the form of annual sub- scriptions. Another, with a popula- tion of 11,000, contributed £145, of which £5 was in the form of annual sub- scriptions ; and another, with a popula- tion of 6,500, contributed £36, of which £4 was in the form of annual sub- scriptions.

Figures were also put before the Conference showing the developments which the Institution is making, and will make in the near future, in the Welsh. Stations, and the way in which Wales contributes in comparison with the needs of the Service. At present the Institution has 61 Motor Life- boats and one Steam Life-boat in a fleet of 214, so that the power-driven boats are 29 per cent, of the whole fleet. In Wales, seven of the twenty-five Life- boats are motor-driven, and one is a steam Life-boat, so that 33J per cent, of the Welsh Life-boats are power- driven, while in the near future 50 per cent, will be power-driven. On the other hand, the £4,250 raised in Wales during 1926, represented |f. per head of the population, while the cost of providing and maintaining the whole Service was A. per head of the whole population of Great Britain and Ireland.

A number of interesting proposals were made and discussed. The dele- gates welcomed the Chairman's sug- gestion, that in order to get larger attendances at the annual meetings of Branches, and in particular to attract working men and women, the meetings should be combined with a display of Life-boat films or some other form of entertainment, and if necessary, should be held in the evenings.

The suggestion was made that the Welsh Branches should try to get one day to be held as Life-boat Day through- out Wales. The difficulties in the way of such as arrangement were pointed out by the District Organizing Secretary, in particular the impossibility of fixing a date which would be acceptable to both inland and sea-coast branches, the former preferring to hold their Days before or after the holiday season, the latter to hold them at the height of that season when their towns were full of visitors. It was decided, however, to try and link up some of the industrial districts, and to make a start with South Wales.

The suggestion was made that, in order to bring the Institution's balance sheet to the notice of as many people as possible, it should be published not only in the Annual Report, but in the issue of the Institution's Journal, which contained the report of the Annual Meeting of Governors; and the Chairman promised to propose to the Committee of Management that this should be done.

A discussion then took place on the Glamorganshire and South Wales Fund for presenting to the Prince of Wales the Motor Lifeboats at Barry Dock and the Mumbles, which are named Prince David and Edward, Prince of Wales. Of the £20,000 required, more than half still remains to be raised.

Lieut.-Colonel Watts Morgan, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.P., a member of the Com- mittee of the Fund, suggested that nothing should be attempted until the country had begun to recover from the industrial depression of 1926, and Mr.

T. H. Mordey, J.P., of the Cardiff and Penarth Committee, agreeing with this, suggested that when the time came to reopen the appeal, the sum required should be allocated according to popula- tion to the different areas. It was also agreed that an effort should be made, in a year's time, to organize County Bazaars in aid of the Fund.

After the Conference, the majority of the delegates visited the Station at Barry Dock, saw the Prince David launched, and were taken for a trip in her.

Cardiff Annual Meeting and Ball.

The Annual Meeting of the Cardiff and Penarth Branch was held two days before the Conference. The Lord Mayor presided, supported by Alderman S. Thomas, J.P. (Honorary Treasurer), Sir Herbert D. Lewis, K.B.E., and Mr. T. H. Mordey, J.P. The report for the year ending 30th September last showed that £290 had been raised, as compared with £383 in 1925. The Honorary Treasurer pointed out that this decline was due to the special severity of the effect of the Coal Strike on the industry and shipping of Cardiff.

Mr. Mordey suggested that Cardiff ship- owners should revive the custom of subscribing one guinea for each of their ships, and that they should give their names as patrons of the Branch. Mr.

James Benson, speaking as one who had manned a Life-boat and been rescued by a Life-boat, said that Cardiff, as the principal port of Wales, ought to head the list of subscriptions, and Sir Herbert Lewis reminded the meeting that South Wales had not yet fulfilled the obligation which it had undertaken to raise a fund to provide the Motor Life- boats at Barry Dock and the Mumbles.

On the following night a Life-boat Ball was held at the City Hall, organized by a special committee of which Captaia P. H. Morrish was chairman. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Cardiff, the Mayor and Mayoress of Newport, and a number of the delegates to the Conference attended it. Some three hundred people were present, and the Ball was such a success that it is hoped to make it an annual event.