THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET Motor Life-boats, 108 :: Pulling & Sailing Life-boats, 73 LIVES RESCUED from the foundation of the Institution in 1824 to - 62,913 June 9th, 1932 Annual Meeting.

THE Hundred and Eighth Annual Meet- ing of the Governors of the Institution was held at the Caxton Hall, West- minster, on Friday, 22nd April, at 3 p.m.

Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the Committee of Management, pre- sided, supported by the Mayor of West- minster, Vice-Presidents of the Institu- tion and members of the Committee of Management.

The principal speaker was the Eight Hon. Walter Eunciman, M.P., Presi- dent of the Board of Trade and a Vice- President of the Institution, who pre- sented two Medals awarded for gallantry to the Coxswains of Longhope, in the Orkneys, and Portpatrick, Wigtown- shire, and awards made during 1931 to a number of honorary workers.

The other speakers were Mr. A. Duff Cooper, D.S.O., M.P., Financial Secre- tary to the War Office, Sir John Collie, C.M.G., M.D., Mr. Charles G. Ammon, Major Sir Maurice Cameron, K.C.M.G., Mr. Ernest Armstrong, and the Hon.

George Colville, Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Management.

Among those who accepted the invi- tation of the Committee of Management were representatives of seven foreign countries. They were: Their Excel- lencies the French Ambassador, the Danish Minister and the Netherlands Minister, representatives of the German and Belgian Ambassadors, the Swedish Naval Attache, and a representative of the Latvian Minister.

The Mayors and Mayoresses of the following London Boroughs accepted the invitation : Westminster, Fulham, Finsbury, Camberwell, Hammersmith, Battersea, Acton, Marylebone, Lambeth, Paddington, Ilford, Holborn, Bromley, Poplar, Woolwich, West Ham, Wands- worth and Walthamstow.

Among others who accepted the invitation were Sir Eobert Hamilton, M.P., for Orkney and Shetland, and Lady Hamilton; Mr. J. H. McKie, M.P. for Galloway; the Lady Diana Cooper; representatives of the Board of Trade, King George's Fund for Sailors, the Navy League, the Mercantile Marine Service Association, the Im- perial Merchant Service Guild, the Eoyal Alfred Aged Merchant Seamen's Insti- tution and the Marine Engineers' Asso- ciation, an officer and a party of twenty-five boys from the training- ship Stork, and a party of Sea Eangers from the Girl Guides Association.

There were also present Honorary Life Governors of the Institution; holders of the Institution's Gold Badge ; members of the Central London Women's Committee of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, and representatives of Branches and Guilds.

The following is a report of the meeting:— Sir Godfrey Baring.

The CHAIRMAN : Your Excellencies, my Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen,—May I com- mence these proceedings by performing a very pleasant duty, and that is to offer a most cordial welcome to the distinguished repre- sentatives of foreign countries who year by year are kind enough to come and honour our proceedings by their presence. I should like also to welcome all our splendid workers in the Life-boat cause who fill this hall year by year to hear what we have done during the past year. (Applause.) It is now my duty to present the Report of the work of the Life-boat Institution during the year 1931. It is the Hundred and Eighth Report, and if you look at it you will find that during the past year our Life-boats and our Life-boatmen saved 271 lives. That is a slight diminution in number from the previous year, 1930. It is interesting to note that during every single month of the year 1931 some lives were saved by our Life-boats.

There is one curious feature in connexion with the record of life-saving, and that is that during the four summer months—June, July, August and September—of the so-called summer of 1931, actually more lives were saved than during the first four months of the year.

During the year sixteen Motor Life-boats were added to our Fleet. That is the largest number of Motor Life-boats which have ever been completed and placed upon the coast in any one year. I am glad to say, and I am sure the Governors will be glad to know, that we are approaching the end of our Motor Life- boat construction programme. It has cost us a great deal of money, because we have, as you know, been anxious to place on the coasts of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales Motor Life-boats wherever such boats can be usefully employed. But, ladies and gentle- men, that will not be the end of our task. Our oldest Motor Life-boats are twenty years old, and that is almost their maximum of useful life. So that we shall soon have to start the rather onerous task of replacing our Motor Life-boats.

I am glad to say that owing to the strict economy of my colleagues on the Committee of Management the cost of the Life-boat Service shows a diminution of £10,000.

Unfortunately, there is another diminution, and that is in our total revenue ; but we are not discouraged by it, and we are not surprised at it, considering the terribly difficult times of bad trade and overwhelming taxation. There- fore I have to report three diminutions: first, in the number of lives saved ; secondly, in the cost of the Service, and, thirdly, in our revenue. But there is one thing which has not diminished, and that is the skill, courage and splendid devotion of our Life-boatmen.

Those, during the 108 glorious years of the Life-boat Institution's history, have never shown any diminution, and I believe firmly that they never will. (Applause.) I should like to tell you two cheering inci- dents which have occurred during the last few months. First, we received about three months ago a letter from a gentleman, and we never had a more welcome letter. He said he had been in the habit of subscribing five shillings a year, but he was afraid that these were very bad times, and that the finances of the Institution would suffer. He was very unwilling to see them suffer, and so, instead of sending tne customary five shillings, he was very glad on this occasion to send us £25. (Applause.) That is something like a subscriber, and I hope there are many ladies and gentlemen here who are going to do like- wise. (Laughter and applause.) The other cheering incident was that through the Foreign Office we received a cheque for £25, the proceeds of a Life-boat Bazaar held at Caracas. I am sure you all know where Caracas is; I do, because I have taken the precaution of looking it up. It is the capital of Venezuela. In that capital the English colony organized a Life-boat Bazaar, and with the aid of gome generous American citizens, they made £25, and they have sent that as a contribution to the Life-boat funds. (Ap- plause.) That shows that the propaganda of the Life-boat Institution is really world-wide.

I have now, ladies and gentlemen, the honour to submit this Report for your acceptance, and I shall be very glad to answer any ques- tions which may be put on the Report.

As there are no questions and no remarks to be made, I now have to read out the names of those gentlemen who have been nominated as President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurers, and other members of the Committee of Manage- ment from the 22nd April, 1932, until the date of the Annual Meeting of the Governors of the Institution in 1933. Also Messrs. Price, Waterhouse & Company as Auditors for the same period. They have all been nominated by myself and no one else has been nominated.

COMMITTEE or MANAGEMENT.

President.

H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, K.G.

Vice-Presidents.

The Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Duke of Atholl.

The Duke of Montrose.

The Duke of Portland.

The Marquis of Ailsa.

The Marquis of Aberdeen and Temair.

The Earl of Derby.

The Rev. the Earl of Devon.

The Earl of Albemarle.

The Earl of Lonfdale.

Admiral of the Fleet the Earl Jellicoe of Scapa.

The Viscount Grey of Fallodon.

The Viscount Burnham.

Commodore Sir Richard Henry Williams- Bulkeley, Bt., B.N.R.

The Lord Southborough.

Major-General the Right Hon. John E. B.

Seely.

The Hon. George Colville.

Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt.

Sir John G. Gumming.

Mr. Leonard Gow.

Miss Alice Marshall.

Mr. Noel E. Peck.

Mr. Walter Runciman, M.P.

Treasurer.

The Earl of Harrowby.

Other Members of the Committee of Management.

Mr. James Bryce Allan.

Mr. Charles G. Ammon.

Mr. Ernest Armstrong.

Mr. H. Arthur Baker.

Rear-Admiral T. P. H. Beamish.

Lieut.-Colonel J. Benskin.

Mr. Frederick Cavendish Bentinck.

The Earl of Brecknock.

Professor John Cameron.

Major Sir Maurice Cameron.

Rear-Admiral Gordon Campbell, M.P.

Captain Charles J. P. Cave.

Colonel Lord William Cecil.

Sir John Collie.

Engineer Vice-Admiral Sir Robert B. Dixon.

Admiral Sir A. A. M. Duff.

Commander Herbert G. Evans, R.N.R.

Captain Guy Fanshawe, R.N.

Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson.

Mr. George G. Fortescue.

Mr. K. Lee Guinness.

Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey.

Commodore Sir Bertram F. Hayes, R.N.R.

(ret.) Sir Frederick Thomas Hopkinson.

Captain the Earl Howe, R.N.V.R.

Mr. John F. Lamb.

Colonel Sir A. Henry McMahon.

Commander Sir Harry Mainwaririg, Bt., R.N.V.R.

Mr. Algernon Maudslay.

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Francis Oliver.

Sir Gervais S. C. Rentoul, K.C., M.P.

The Rt. Hon. F. 0. Roberts.

Colonel the Master of Sempill.

Colonel R. F. A. Sloane-Stanley.

Commander Henry Strong, R.N.R. (ret.) Commander F. F. Tower, late R.N.V.R.

. General Sir Reginald Wingate, Bt., and ex officio.

The Lord Mayor of London.

The Admiral Commanding Reserves.

The Deputy Master of the Trinity House.

The Hydrographer of the Navy.

The Chairman of Lloyd's.

The Deputy Master, Hon. Company of Master Mariners.

I declare all those gentlemen duly elected to their several offices.

Presentation of Medals for Gallantry.

The CHAIRMAN : I now call upon the Secre- tary to read the accounts of the services for which Medals and other awards have been given, and I will then ask the Right Hon.

Walter Runciman, M.P., President of the Board of Trade, to present them.

The Secretary then read the accounts of the services, and the Medals and other awards were presented by Mr. Runciman, as follows :— To COXSWAIN JOHN SWANSON, of Xong- hope, a Second-service Clasp, to the Silver Medal which he already holds, for the rescue on 9th January, 1932, of eight men of the trawler Dorbie of Hull.

To MR. WILLIAM SUTHERLAND, Honorary Secretary of the Longhope Station, an in- scribed Barometer, for his energy and initia- tive in directing operations in the service to the Dorbie, from the land.

To COXSWAIN JOHN CAMPBELL, of Port- patrick, Wigtownshire, the Bronze Medal for the rescue on 13th January, 1932, of the crew of eight men of the s.s. Camlough, of Belfast.

(A full account of the service of the Port- patrick Motor Life-boat appeared in the last issue of The Lifeboat, and a full account of the service by the Longhope Motor Life-boat appears on page 478 of this issue.) The CHAIRMAN : Before I call on Mr. Runci- man to move the first resolution, may I say a word of reassurance to him, that although we have had a most careful search made through Acts of Parliament, we cannot find a single Act of Parliament prohibiting him from standing on this platform and speaking to the Meeting.* (Laughter.) Mr. Runciman.

The Right Hon. WALTER RUNCIMAN, M.P. : Mr. Chairman, your Excellencies, my Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen,—I need hardly say that after hearing the record which has been read by the Secretary of the rescues made during the past year, and that representing merely a fraction of the services rendered, it is almost unnecessary for anyone else to mate a speech. Far and away the most eloquent advocacy of the Life-boat Cause is to be found in the plain, simple annals of the regular yearly service. The men whom you have had before you this afternoon are samples of the Crews which are to be found on all our 5,000 miles of coast, and I am sure that those who are here, as well as those who are absent, will * On the morning of the meeting it had been announced that, owing to an oversight in an Act of Parliament, Mr. Runciman was not entitled to sit in the House of Commons, as President of the Board of Trade, without seeking re-election, and that not having done this, he was not legally a Member of Parlia- ment, and had made himself liable to fines amounting to many thousands of pounds.

On the afternoon of the meeting, Mr. Runci- man, pending the passing of a special Law to put right the mistake, was not able to take his seat in the House of Commons.

realise that the quality of the Coxswains and Crews of onr Life-boats is just as important as the quality of the boats themselves.

(Cheers.) Your Committee of Management have devoted to the construction of the new Fleet all the finest scientific knowledge and technical skill which naval architects and Life-boat builders can command. Their work has been done at very great cost, which, thanks to you and the Local Committees, has been defrayed, while still leaving the Institution in a sound financial position. But that work must continue year by year. There have been enormous improvements made in Life-boat engines during the period of the transforma- tion from oars and sails to engines; but, as Sir Godfrey has already said, Motor Life- boats will not last for ever, and we must re-build this Fleet bit by bit as time goes on and provide every portion of our coasts with the best, fastest and safest boats that we can construct. That is the duty of the Committee.

The Crews have placed their confidence in these boats to a most remarkable degree.

My memory goes back to the time when the first of the Motor Life-boats was put into service, and there were some members who thought that the Crews might not have as much confidence in these new-fangled things as they had in the old boats; but I am glad to say, from all we can learn, that throughout our coasts there is now complete confidence in our Motor Life-boats, and that risks are undertaken in them which the men would never have dared to undertake in the old pulling and sailing boats. That is very much to the good.

We in the Board of Trade are also co-operat- ing in the fullest possible degree with the Institution. We are, indeed, partners in the guardianship of the coasts. The Coastguard and the coast-watchers are under the Board of Trade ; the Life-boats are under the absolute and complete control of the Institution ; and I need hardly say that we work together with the greatest amity and that there never has been a decimal point of friction in the rela- tionship between the Institution and the State Department, as I can certify as head of that Department. (Applause).

Now we have another good record to note.

It is that this past year, with all its disadvan- tages, was, fortunately, not a year of disasters.

The Secretary tells me that there was nothing remarkable about 1931 ; and yet this year which had nothing remarkable about it, except its lack of sunshine, was a year in which no less than 271 lives were saved. Surely there can be no better testimony to the absolute necessity of maintaining this Institution at its full strength. (Applause.) I would like to say a word or two about the finances of the Institution. The total cost of the Service last year ran to the very large amount of £272,000. (Our minds centre very largely on money nowadays, and I hare not been altogether free from anxiety during the last twenty-four hours, but I am glad to think that the vigilance of our Life-boat Stations far excels the vigilance of the common in- former.) (Laughter.) It is a very remarkable fact that in this past year, probably the very worst that British trade, commerce and finance have ever known, we have been able out of the voluntary contributions of our people to meet the needs of this Institution. This says a great deal for the work of the local Secretaries and the local Committees, to whom we wish to express our profound gratitude. (Applause.) Out of that expenditure, I would remind you that no less than £45,000 was spent last year in rewards, gratuities and pensions to those who actually do the work of rescue. But, Mr.

Chairman, that money, so distributed, is not the full reward of what the Life-boatmen receive. They are quite entitled to their pay, to their gratuities and to their pensions ; but their greatest satisfaction is that they stand so high in the esteem of their fellow-countrymen.

(Applause.) We do the best we can for them, and they do the best they can not only for us but, let me add, for the ships of all nations. It is a great satisfaction to us to see in this hall this afternoon the representatives of so many peoples who do not fly the British Flag.

(Applause.) I am glad to think that they participate in the Life-boat Service with benefit to their crews. Last year was nothing remarkable in the number of foreign vessels which were aided, but yet not less than seventeen received the services of Life-boats, and by those services forty-nine foreign lives were rescued. This is not a remarkable number, but it is typical, and I am glad to think that we have throughout always regarded this Service as a great international service, setting the example of internationalism before Geneva was ever thought of. (Applause.) There is one satisfaction that we can draw from the whole of this work, and that is that the mettle of our people still remains sound.

It is a great comfort to us to feel that it is so fully appreciated by the people of the inland towns and villages, who have no direct know- ledge of the services rendered on our coasts.

Their imagination is touched by what they read in the press and in our prints. They realize the terrible risks which are run by those who carry on this rescue work, and they one and all appreciate the fact that in these islands we seafaring people are absolutely dependent upon the safety of the seas. That safety is rendered all the more sure by the Life-boat Service, and from every district and from every town almost there come contribu- tions to the Life-boat Institution's funds.

'Applause.) We are fortunate in receiving the very enthusiastic support of the Prince of Wales and other members of the Royal Family, of ;he foreign Governments, and of the Navy, ihe Army and the Air Force ; and I need hardly say that the Mercantile Marine also co-operate, as indeed they should, for it is n their interests above all that this service s maintained. I would also like to add, with reference to our connexion with foreign countries, that we received last year contribu-tions from nearly a hundred foreign ship- owners. (Applause.) All of this work, both in the country and in the central offices of the Institution, is con- ducted without State intervention. Par be it from me to belittle the services rendered by those who man our Government Depart- ments, but I have no hesitation in saying thjpt, having seen their work from within over a very long period, and having observed the Life-boat work and the Life-boat administra- tion from without, I give the palm to the Life- boat Institution. Once this Institution loses that element of voluntaryism, it will lose one of the -qualities which now make it dear to the heart of the British people. (Applause.) I am sure that in moving this resolution of thanks to the Coxswains and the Crews and to the Local Committees and the Local Secre- taries, I do so with your enthusiastic support and in the full belief that the reputation of this Institution is being maintained at its highest level, and that we can rely on the services of all those classes of its members in the coming year, as we have in the past.

(Applause.) The CHAIRMAN : The resolution will be seconded by Sir John Collie, a member of the Committee of Management of the Institution.

Sir John Collie.

Sro JOHN COLLIE : Mr. Chairman, your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,—I feel it a great honour to be asked to second the resolution proposed so ably by one of the most distinguished members of His Majesty's Government. I think possibly one of the reasons why I have been asked to address you this afternoon is that I happen to come from Scotland. We have had within the last two years five medals presented, and four of the recipients have come from my native country.

But those who have done these heroic deeds are a small number of those to whom the Institution is indebted. It is only those who reach the V.C. standard who receive medals.

There are innumerable other instances of courage in the records of life-saving.

My mind carries me back to a service, which happened on the 20th February, 1931, at our most northerly Station, at Lerwick, in the Shetland Islands. There the Coxswain re- ceived a wireless message that a ship, the Everline, was a hundred miles off the coast of the most northerly of the Shetland Islands, and that she was drifting with her propeller gone. A hundred gallons of petrol were taken on board the Life-boat, and the Crew stood by.

In the morning another message came—but not from the Everline. It was that a small ketch had lost its way and was in distress.

The Life-boat put out to sea in a blinding snowstorm with a wild south-westerly gale blowing. She found the ketch with six men on board. The captain had lost his compass ; he had lost his way; and I think he had lost his head. His boat was taken in tow, and at six o'clock in the evening these six men were safely landed.

The Crew would expect now to have a little refreshment and rest, and a change of wet clothes. But no; another message had ar- rived, this time from the Everline, that she was drifting towards the rocks. Within an hour the boat was off again.

Between the North and South Shetland Islands there is a narrow sound called the Yell.

When the Life-boat reached the Yell the tide was flowing very strongly, the wind was blowing a gale, the night was dark, and the snow was blinding. Her Crew found it impossible, with all their stout hearts, to navigate the sound. They were forced to put into Symbister. Then at last you would have thought that they would have got a little rest.

But no. Again they stood by all night, fending the boat oft from being broken against the pier. Next morning they found their way through the Yell, and at last they came upon the Everline. She had twenty-six souls on board, twenty-five men and one woman.

The little Life-boat made its way to the leeward and gradually came alongside. But the Everline was pitching and tossing so much that at one moment she was high above the Life-boat, and .the next moment the Life- boat was high above her gunwale. By careful, steady seamanship a rope ladder was made fast between the two, and one by one those twenty-six souls, headed by the woman, came safely into the Life-boat. She then made for Lerwick. When she reached it, she had been battling with the waves for twenty-two hours.

Think of the endurance, think of the bravery, and, above all, think of the success. (Ap- plause.) The sea divides all countries and many continents. The Life-boat Service unites in one common brotherhood all classes, ,all creeds, all nations. The Life-boat Service stands for that lofty spirit of Christianity which dictates the saving of life at personal peril when it is necessary. It is like, that mercy which is twice blessed, which blesses him who gives and him who takes. We want you to take upon yourselves the re- sponsibility of the maintenance of this great Service. It is not for you, perhaps, to do these heroic acts of physical endurance; but you can all emulate that spiritual effort which, if it does not save life, saves character.

Would'st thou be here—wait not then supinely For fields of fine romance which no day brings; The finest lives lie oft in doing finely A multitude of unromantic things.

The heroism of thy true endeavour Shall gild the commonplace of common days, And God Himself shall guard thy work for ever And crown it with eternity of praise.

(Applause.) The Chairman then put the resolution: That this Meeting, fully recognizing the impor- tant services of the Royal National Life-boat Institution in its national work of life-saving, desires to record its hearty appreciation of the gallantry of the Coxswains and Crews of the Institution's Life-boats, and gratefully to acknowledge the valuable help rendered to the cause by the Local Committees, Honorary Secretaries and Honorary Treasurers.

(The resolution was carried.) Presentations to Honorary Life-governors.

Mr. Runciman then made presentations to honorary workers for long and distinguished service, the Secretary giving particulars in each case of the work for which the award was made, as follows :— The SECRETARY : An Honorary Life- Governorship is the highest honour which the Institution can confer on its honorary workers, and is given only for very special and dis- tinguished services. A copy of the Vote, inscribed on vellum and signed by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, as President of of the Institution, is presented to each Honorary Life-Governor.

Four new Honorary Life-Governors have been appointed since the last Annual Meeting : EDINBURGH HAKRIET, LADY FINDLAY, D.B.E., appointed an Honorary Life-Governor in recognition of her valued services as President of the Ladies' Life-Boat Guild of the Edinburgh, Leith and Granton Branch, and as Honorary Secretary of the Scottish Life-boat Council.

BRADFORD.

Mr. FRANCIS LAIDLER, appointed an Honorary Life-Governor in recognition of his valuable services, extending over thirty-one years, in organizing an Annual Matinee at Bradford on behalf of the Institution.

NEWHAVEN (SUSSEX).

Mr. J. J. LINES, appointed an Honorary Life-Governor in recognition of his valuable services as Honorary Secretary of the New- haven Station Branch for upwards of thirty years.

Lady Findlay, Mr. Laidler and Mr. Lines are unfortunately unable to be present.

LONDON.

The Lady ADELAIDE TAYLOUK, appointed an Honorary Life-Governor in recognition of her valued services to the Life-boat Cause for many years.

Presentation of Gold Badges.

The SECRETARY : The Gold Badge also is awarded only to honorary workers who have given distinguished service. Since the last Annual Meeting seventeen have been awarded, and the following are present this afternoon to receive their awards :— BERMONDSEY (LONDON).

Mr. OSCAR C. GRIDLEY, in recognition of his valuable co-operation as Honorary Secre- tary for the last twenty-one years, and pre- viously in connexion with the Life-boat Saturday Fund.

BERWICK-ON-TWEED.

Lady FRANCIS GODOLPHTN OSBORNB, in recognition of her long and valuable co-opera- tion as President of the Branch, and President and Honorary Treasurer of the Ladies' Life- boat Guild.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE.

Mrs. R. CARPENTER, in recognition of her valuable co-operation as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild.

CABLISLE.

Mrs. MARY M. TALBOT CADDOW, in recogni- tion of her valuable co-operation as Presi- dent of the Branch.

KBIGHLEY.

Mrs. R. H. EDMONDSON, in recognition of her long and valuable co-operation as Honorary Secretary of the Branch.

MARGATE.

Mr. T. W. GOMM, in recognition of his long and valuable services as Honorary Secretary of the Branch.

PORT ERIN (!SLE OF MAN).

Mr. SAMUEL GORHY, in recognition of his valuable co-operation as Honorary Secretary, and previously Honorary Treasurer, of the Branch.

PRESTON.

Miss I. E. CROSS, in recognition of her valuable co-operation for many years, the last five as Honorary Secretary of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild.

SCARBOROUGH.

Mr. F. P. MORGAN, in recognition of his long and valuable co-operation as Honorary Secretary of the Branch.

WALTON-ON-THAMES (SURREY).

Miss HELEN B. MACGRBGOR, in recognition of her valuable co-operation as Honorary Secretary of the Branch.

The CHAIRMAN : The next resolution will be moved by Mr. A. Duff Cooper, D.S.O., M.P., Financial Secretary to the War Office.

Mr. Duff Cooper.

Mr. DUFF COOPER : Sir Godfrey Baring, your Excellencies, my Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen,—It is with some diffidence, after the speeches that have been made and the stories we have listened to, that I rise to address this audience. You have heard such tales of heroism, and we have seen this after- noon such real heroes on the platform, that to make a speech on a subject which must command the respect and the enthusiasm of all is a great responsibility for anybody who feels himself ill-equipped for it.

I have a heavy responsibility placed upon me, because I have to propose the health of the ladies, or, in other words, to move the resolution which you will find on the Agenda.

The ladies play a continually increasing part in every form of national activity. I do not think there is any sphere from which they are now excluded, and all of us, even some who in the old days were inclined to look with possible disfavour or with apprehension upon the increased activities of women in national life, are now compelled to admit that wherever they have played a part during these last two generations, they have performed great services to the State and have shown them- selves well worthy of the obligations that the State has placed upon them. (Applause.) I have recently read that in the Soviet Republic, where they have what I think would be called, in modern parlance, an abolition complex, they have gone so far in the abolition of sex as well as of class distinctions that they have now established a great many battalions of women in the Bed Army. I have even seen photographs of some of those battalions, and I must say I never saw more attractive troops in my life ; but even while looking and while admiring, I could not help feeling that the strength of her right arm and the accuracy of her eye in the command of a rifle would never be the greatest asset or the most formidable weapon at a woman's command. • (Laughter.) But in this matter of Life-boats there has been, I understand, no demand amongst the women, who enthusiastically support the cause, actually to man the boats, and I think they have been wise in limiting their activities to another sphere. I think they have realized how much they can do in the other sphere.

Nobly according to the men the whole honour of so great a cause, they have shouldered a tremendous part of the burden; and it is remarkable that the Ladies' Life-boat Guild provides something like two-thirds of the whole funds of the Institution. (Applause.) Even while I was using those words and saying that women were right to realize their limitations, there occurred to me the name of one who, I suppose, is often quoted at meet- ings of this nature and wherever the cause of the Life-boats is concerned, that charming and immortal name of Grace Darling. (Ap- plause.) I am unaware how far romance and literature have added to the fame of her performance, but she did really perform not only the task of aiding and assisting, but of manning the boat that went to the help of the distressed. But, as I say, the women have taken their share, and they are taking it, in this extremely practical and useful form of organization, of collection and of contribu- tion ; and in these days of hard times, high taxation and small returns, even charity can assume heroic proportions. (Applause.) I should like to say to the ladies who con- tribute to this Guild and control it, who lend voluntarily their services to the great work which it is performing, that they are doing no less towards saving life from shipwreck than are those other heroic women who lend a hand to their husbands, their fathers, their sons, and their lovers when the time comes actually to push the boat into the sea in nights of storm and tempest. (Applause.) All the heroism and devotion of which they are capable, and which those women show, would be useless if the boats were not there for them to launch, if the money was not there behind the boats to build them and keep them in repair. That certainly is a form of ship money to which even John Hampden would not have objected.

(Applause.) We in the inland towns who live in calm, comfort and peace, so far as these dangers at any rate are concerned, should feel ourselves under an obligation to contribute something to the help of those who have so much sterner duties to perform and so many greater risks to face upon the coasts, who are maintaining the great traditions of our country as a sea- faring people and as a humane people, and who are ever ready to take all risks to save the lives of those in danger on the sea, whether British subjects or foreign. It is therefore with a great feeling of the honour done me that I propose to the Meeting to-day the reso- lution which stands in my name. (Applause.) The CHAIRMAN : The resolution will be seconded by Mr. Charles Aminon, a member of the Committee of Management of the Institution.

Mr. C. G. Anunon.

Mr. C. G. AMMON : Mr. Chairman, your Excellencies, my Lords, Ladies and Gentle- men, after Mr. Duff Cooper's moving of the resolution, which he has done with his usual grace and skill, there is very little left for me to say. I want to join with him in paying my respectful compliments to the ladies for all the work they have done. As Scotland is so much in the picture to-day, and as she has exercised her usual privilege by taking every- thing that is to be taken—and has earned it as well—may I point out that she has also excelled on a side where we do not always give her credit ? It is worthy of note that the Edinburgh Ladies' Guild, led by Lady Findlay, has set a very remarkable example. In 1930 the members of the Edinburgh Guild raised on Life-boat Day no less than £933. Last year, however, they evidently felt that this was not good enough, and so they put forward renewed efforts and raised no less than £1,800. (Applause.) The records of work that come in to us show that the women workers—apart from such well-worn methods of raising money as bazaars, tea-meetings, sales of work and jumble sales—use some quite novel methods, about which we mere men have been puzzling to know exactly what they mean. For instance, I see that there was an A.B.C. Sale and there was a Chain Tea. I think that we men might get up something like that. But the thing that really puzzled me was a " kitchen shower." I can only suppose it was a burst water-pipe. How you can raise money by a burst water-pipe I don't know, but that " kitchen shower" has certainly been the means of adding to the revenues of the Institution. (Laughter and applause.) I am sure I am echoing the thoughts of everybody who is in any way associated with the Institution when I say how grateful we are not only to the Edinburgh Ladies' Life- boat Guild, but to the Guild everywhere, throughout the length and breadth of these islands, for the work of the women.

I am one of those who do not view with alarm the placing of a good many things under the aegis of the State ; but I look with a good deal of misgiving on anything that would tend to dry up those avenues of personal endeavour and activity in the cause of charity which call forth the best instincts of our people and, in the case of the Life-boat Service, enable us to perform on generous lines a Service which brings us into much closer personal contact than we could otherwise have with the people who go down to the sea in ships in rough and stormy weather and with those who hold the lines on shore. In the name of the Committee of Management I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution moved by Mr. Duff Cooper. (Applause.) The Chairman then put the resolution: That this Meeting desires to record its sense of the deep obligation of the Institution to the Ladies' Life-boat Guild and its many hundreds of voluntary workers for the Life-boat Cause, and its conviction of the increasing importance of the part which the Guild is destined to play in educating public opinion with regard to the value of the Life-boat Service, and in raising funds therefor.

(The resolution was carried.) Major Sir Maurice Cameron, K.C.M.G.

moved and Mr. Ernest Armstrong seconded the following resolution : That this Meeting do approve and ratify the sale of the old Life- boat Houses at Aberdovey, Skerries, Lowestoft and Robin Hood's Bay, which are no longer required for the purposes of the Institution.

(The resolution was carried.) Sir Godfrey Baring.

The CHAIRMAN : Your Excellencies, my Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen,—There is another pleasant duty which I have to per- form, and that is to move that the hearty thanks of this Meeting be given to the Speakers at this, the Hundred and Eighth Annual General Meeting of the Royal National Life- boat Institution.

We are deeply indebted to my friend Mr.

Walter Runciman for having come here. We are glad to have found him on a day of com- parative leisure (in circumstances beyond his control), and we are deeply indebted to him for the speech which he has delivered to us. It would be impertinent of me to praise Mr.

Runciman's speech; but I should like to tell you, in case you do not know, that Mr.

Runciman has been for many years a most active member of the Committee of Manage- ment. He has rendered us most valuable service; he has often spoken at Life-boat Meetings; he has given us the benefit of his counsel and advice on many occasions, and we owe a deep debt of gratitude to him, not only for his presence here to-day, but for many years' active support and most valuable work. (Applause.) I should like to add that such is Mr. Runci- man's keenness for the Life-boat Cause that he has actually arranged that, while he is President of the Board of Trade, any foreign sailors who are landed from a shipwreck will be entirely exempt from the ten per cent, flat rate while they are in this country.

(Laughter.) Then I should like to make another announcement, and it is this. At their last meeting the Committee of Management unanimously and most enthusiastically elected Mr. Walter Runciman a Vice-President of the Institution. That is the highest honour that we can confer upon any of the members of the Committee of Management. (Applause.) I am sure you would wish me to offer your most cordial and enthusiastic thanks to Mr.

Duff Cooper for having found time to come here and for having delivered that wholly admirable speech. Mr. Duff Cooper, if he will permit me to say so, is not only a rising, but a risen hope of one of the three great political parties. It is extremely kind of Mr.

Duff Cooper to come here and help us by his inspiring words. I should also like to thank my colleagues on the Committee of Manage- ment, Sir John Collie and Mr. Amman, for the services they have rendered by their excellent speeches. I will now ask the Deputy-Chairman, Mr. Colville, to address you.

The Hon. GEORGE COLVILLE : Mr. Chair- man, your Excellencies, my Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen,—This is not a pro forma motion. We really mean it. We really wish to thank the speakers for the speeches they have delivered. They have interested us enormously. I have very much pleasure in seconding the resolution. (Applause.) The CHAIRMAN : Let us carry that resolu- tion by enthusiastic applause. (Loud The Right Hon. WALTER RTTNOIMAN : I am authorized by my colleagues on the speakers' list to thank you for the resolution which you have just passed. I know that they would also wish me to say at this moment how glad we have been to find Sir Godfrey Baring in the chair. (Hear, hear.) He is known all over the United Kingdom as the personification of the Life-boat Service ; and it is a matter not only for institutional, but for national thanks that he is able to devote so much of his time to its activities. Will you please carry by acclamation your thanks to him. (Loud applause.) The CHAIRMAN : That concludes the busi- ness, ladies and gentlemen. I think this is by two minutes a Meeting which has been conducted in record time.

Entertainment of Medallists.

After the meeting the two Medallists and Mr. Sutherland were entertained to tea at the House of Commons by Commander the Hon.

A. D. Cochrane, D.S.O., M.P., Deputy- Chairman of the Scottish Life-boat Council.

Sir Robert Hamilton, M.P. for Shetland and Orkney, and Mr. J. H. McKie, M.P. for Galloway were also present to receive them.

In the evening they were the guests of Messrs.

Moss Empires at the Victoria Palace.

Coxswain Campbell returned to Port- patrick the following morning, but Mr.

Sutherland and Coxswain Swanaon remained in London until the Monday. On the Satur- day they were the guests of members of the Shetland and Orkney Society in London, and on the Sunday Mr. Sutherland was enter- tained by Sir Robert and Lady Hamilton.

Coxswain Swanson was also invited, but was prevented by illness from going..