IN 1931 no fewer than 686 Branches held Life-boat Days, as compared with 672 in 1930 and 616 in 1929. The actual number of Days was still larger, for many Branches cover a wide area and include several districts, each of which holds its own Day.

Though the number of days was larger, the sum obtained by this form of appeal was smaller. That is not surprising in view of the increasing industrial depres- sion and unemployment during the year. The amount raised last year was £41,363, as compared with £45,590 in 1930 and £43,520 in 1929. That is a decrease of £4,227 on 1930 and £2,157 on 1929.

•The number of emblems disposed of was 5,005,473. That is to say, over five million people contributed to the Life- boat Service in response to these appeals alone. The number was, however, smaller by 353,227 than in 1930.

There has also been a decline in the average amount received for each Day.

It was £71 in 1929, £68 in 1930, and £60 in 1931.

In 1929, on an average, it took 117 people to contribute each pound; in 1930 it took 118 people, and in 1931 it took 121 people. That is to say, the average contribution last year was just under twopence a head.

Permission to hold Days was refused in only 34 places, but that is an increase of eight on 1930.

The above figures justify, if any justification is necessary, the continua- tion of a form of appeal which is the most economical, and which reaches thousands of people who would have no other opportunity of contributing.

They show also that there is a good deal of exaggeration in the suggestions which are freely made that the public is tired and impatient of Flag Days. It is clear that it willingly and generously responds when the appeal is made on behalf of a great national charity like the Life-boats.

A Mayor's Appeal.

Those members of the public who feel any impatience at being appealed to in this way, and those Life-fcoat workers who are afraid of finding the public impatient, we recommend to read the very kind and sensible letter which the Mayor of Bath sent to the local Press, announcing that it had been decided to give permission for fifteen Flag Days.

He wrote :— " There is, on the part of some of the public, a resentment of Flag Days, generally, but may I emphasise that, if these Flag Days were not held, the poorer folk who are willing to give their pence to the good work would not have the opportunity of doing so, and amounts ranging say from Id. to Is. would never be collected.

" May I point out further, that if there i was a Flag Day every Saturday (fifty- two) for the whole year and people only gave one penny, their total subscription would be 4s. 4 J. for the year. There are, however, only fifteen days on the list.

" It should be easy for everyone to be courteous to the collectors, whose duties are often very hard, especially when the weather is bad, and a penny subscribed in this way and an emblem worn means that they will not be accosted again that day to contribute, but will have the smile of the other collectors as they pass them by.

" So when the days come along, do not say ' Bother, another Flag Day,' but, if you cannot give more than one penny, please do so, wear your emblem, and prevent unhappiness of yourself and the collectors.".