THE Institution has had made for it a new sound film which tells the story of the building of a motor life-boat. It starts on the other side of the world, with the hauling by elephants of teak logs in the Burmese forests, and the felling of mahogany in Honduras— the teak and mahogany which will come to Great Britain to be built into life-boats. It shows the Institution's timber-converter testing crooks of English oak. Then it moves through the building-yard and the engineering- works to show the care and craftsman- ship which go to make a modern motor life-boat and its engines.

In a series of rapid shots one sees the sawing and shaping of the timbers ; the steaming of the planks of mahogany so that they can be bent over the frame- work of the life-boat; the stretching of the calico which lies between her double skin of mahogany; the testing of the engine parts ; the completed engine, and the flooded engine-room with the engine still able to work, though under water ; the special tunnels in which the propellers are housed to protect them from damage ; the air- cases which would keep the life-boat afloat even if twenty holes were knocked in her and every compartment were open to the sea; and the relieving- scuppers which empty the life-boat as she fills with water. Then, after the final coat of paint, the completed life-boat is seen arriving at her station ; and the last shot shows her putting out on her first service.

The film has music and a running commentary.

It has been made for the Institution by the Strand Film Co., under the direction of Mr. Paul Rotha.

There are two versions of the film.

The shorter takes seven minutes to show and is intended, principally, for issue to cinemas, to be shown in advance of life-boat days. The longer takes ten minutes to show, and is for the use of branches at their own meetings and other functions, and for showing at schools and other film entertainments.

Both these films are the standard size, 35 mm.

There is also a silent version, taking twelve minutes to show, which is 16 mm., for use on home projectors..