Greater London.

THE Annual Conference of Branches in Greater London was held on 9th October, at the City Hall, Westminster. Dele- gates were present from twenty-one Branches and nine Ladies' Life-boat Guilds, and were welcomed by the Mayor of Westminster (Major V. B.

Rogers, D.S.O., M.C.). The chair was taken by Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the Committee of Manage- ment of the Institution, supported by the Lady Florence Pery, Honorary Secretary of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Mr. George F. Shee, Secretary of the Institution, the District Organiz- ing Secretary, and the Assistant District Organizing Secretary.

Sir Godfrey Baring thanked the dele- gates for their presence and all the Honorary workers in the District for the work which they had done during the past year.

Mr. Shee then gave a survey of the work of the Institution. He referred first to the changes being made all round the coast by the substitution of Motor for Pulling and Sailing Life-boats. Turning to the work of appeal for funds, he emphasized the need of obtaining fullest Municipal support and the assistance of Members of Parliament and Candidates, Members of the County Council, Toe H, Rotary Clubs, and the Girl Guides. He urged the delegates to get as many Life-boat talks as possible, especially noting the value of the drawing-room meeting. He also drew the attention of the delegates to the value of the Journal and the various leaflets which were printed and brought up to date from time to time with the express purpose of aiding the Hon. Secretaries in their work. In conclusion he appealed to the delegates to remember the last para- graph of the invitation to the Conference and to contribute to the discussion.

A general discussion followed in the course of which the following points were made.

The importance of sending out requests for the renewal of contributions. One Branch which collected £200 in one year only got £30 the next year, simply because no applications for renewal were sent out.

The value of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. In Woodford and Epping sub- scriptions increased from £27 to £200 as the result of forming a Guild.

The value of concerts and other entertainments to interest the public, provided that the programme always includes a short speech on the work of the Institution. The Walthamstow Branch holds four free concerts each year, with a silver collection, the churches allowing the free use of their halls, while the Ladies' Life-boat Guild sees that the halls are filled.

After the Conference a number of the delegates visited the Institution's Store- yard at Poplar..