A CONFERENCE of Life-boat workers was held at. Folkestone on 2nd May.

The delegates were welcomed by the Mayor of Folkestone and Major Sir Philip Sassoon, Bt., G.B.E., C.M.G., M.P., Under-Secretary of State for Air, and President of the Folkestone Branch. In the absence of Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the Committee of Management of the Institution, the chair was taken by Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., Secretary of the Institution.

Delegates were present from the following Branches: Aldeburgh, Ashford, Aylsham, Bishops Stortford, Brighton and Hove, Brill, Cambridge, Canterbury, Chelmsfoid, Colchester, Dorking, Dover, Eastbourne, Egham, Folkestone, Felixstowe, Goodwin Sands and Downs, Hastings, Hythe, Lewes, Littlehampton, Margate, New Romney, Ramsgate, Walton-on-Thames and Windier.

The Secretary gave a sun ey of the work of the Institution during the year, and dealt in particular with the changes to be made in the Life-boat Stations on the coast of the District. The District Organising Secretary then gave a report of the work of the District, pointing out tl at the cost of the Life-boat Service was'ljrf. per head of the population, and that if the District was to contribute at that rate, it would have to increase its contribution from £11,000 to £23,000.

A satisfactory feature of the work was the increase in the number of Life-boat Days. There were 43 in 1927, and 51 in 1928. In 1929 he hoped that there would be 70.

Delegates then gave reports on the work of their Branches.

At the afternoon session addresses were given by a number of Honorary workers.

Mrs. Astley Roberts, President of the Eastbourne Ladies' Life-boat Guild, spoke on the organisation of Life-boat Days.

Mr. Capel, of Watford, through the Organising Secretary, described the success that he had had by getting the three cinemas in the town to show Life-boat films for a week before Lifeboat Day, and to allow collecting. The collectors wore oilskins, and a considerable sum was raised.

Colonel Skey, Chairman of the Margate Branch, emphasised the importance of propaganda in the schools, through the Essay Competition v iu the organisation of visits of children to Life-boat Houses.

Mrs. Johnson-Smyth, B.A., Honorary Secretary at Canterbury, gave an address on " The Art of Cadging," and emphasised the need for personal work and the personal following up of all letters of appeal.

Miss Hopkins, the Honorary Secretary of the Folkestone Women's Auxiliary, said that most of the help obtained was froin women who had to work for their living. She was anxious to know how to get the help of women of leisure, who were not giving the support they should.

Mr. T. W. Gomm, Honorary Secretary at Margate, described the methods by which £440 had been collected in the Margate Boat-house last year. Here again it was personal work which was essential. Mrs. Gomm had devoted herself throughout the summer to interesting visitors, of whom 50,000 had come to the Boathouse.

After the Conference the Folkestone Life-boat was launched, and some of the delegates went afloat in her.

Forthcoming Conferences.

A CONFERENCE of London workers will be held at the Westminster City Hall on 9th October, a Conference of North- Eastern workers at Harrogate on 24th an.I 25th. October, and Conferences of South-Western workers at Taunton on 29th October, and at Truro on 31st October..