BOAT OWNERS were told the truth about salvage claims by the Chairman of the R.N.L.I., Admiral Sir Wilfrid Woods, G.B.E., K.C.B., D.S.O., at the annual meeting of the Institution at Central Hall, Westminster, on 9th April, 1967. He said it was important to any one involved in seeking support from boat owners to know the facts as they affect the Institution.

Sir Wilfrid, who was addressing the meeting for the first time as Chairman of the R.N.L.I., said: 'I would like to say a word about salvage. There is a popular misconception, particularly among yachtsmen, that the Institution charges for its services. This is entirely without foundation. Our charter is to save life at sea. We have never charged, and never will charge for life-saving.

Our charter does not require us to save property, but it is the custom of the sea to do so wherever possible. We would not wish our crews to act otherwise.

Often, in fact, the most seaman-like way of saving life is to save the ship or boat in danger.

FEW CLAIMS ' Whatever the circumstances, the Institution never makes a salvage claim. Our crews, however, have a legal right to do so, in common with all seamen. Actually but few claims are made and the sums involved in the aggregate only small. For example, a recent review of the 12 life-boat stations from Hastings to Torbayfor the period 1955-1965 revealed that of 360 services which might have resulted in property salvage claims salvage was, in fact, claimed on only 36 occasions—in one 10—and the average amount received by each crew member over the period was five shillings per annum.

'The annual average of salvage claims is only 5 per cent of the total number of effective services carried out in the course of the year, and even so on many occasions the "claim" really is only an agreement that the crew shall receive a few pounds a man. You will realise, therefore, how groundless is the fear of salvage claims from the Institution. Yet I know that boat owners have on occasion not rewarded, or even thanked, life-boat crews who have saved their boats for fear of this being interpreted as an admission that salvage has been performed.' Sir Wilfrid said that last year life-boats and inshore rescue boats saved the lives of 1,099 people. This was the highest figure ever recorded in time of peace since the Institution began to keep full records in 1852. It was particularly gratifying to be able to record that all this was achieved without the loss of a single crew member on service in a life-boat or inshore rescue boat.

GROWING DEMANDS 'It is now a commonplace to say that the life-boat service grows busier and busier', said Sir Wilfrid. 'Year after year the annual report which is presented to you at these meetings has recorded a record number of launches on service. This was the case again in 1967. When it comes to launching a life-boat to rescue the lives of people who may be in danger at sea, mere statistics reveal very little. If, however, I tell you that last year our rescue craft answered no fewer than 2,141 calls, that this figure was almost three times that of 10 years earlier, and that it showed an increase of nearly 20 per cent on the number in 1966, which was in itself a record, this may give you some impression of how steadily the demands on our crews are growing.'The year was also one of important advances in the Institution's carefully planned programme of reconstruction and of modernising the life-boat fleet and its equipment. Eight new life-boats were completed last year. One was a 48 foot 6 inch Oakley type which was placed at the new station at Trevose Head in Cornwall, at a cost of over £i90,OpO. This very heavy expenditure had to be incurred because of natural forces Outside the Institution's control which had caused silting in the river mouth at Padstow. Four others of the new life-boats were of the 44 foot steel class which have made such a great impression wherever they have been sent, and three of the 37 foot Oakley type, which was now the standard life-boat for launching from cradles and slipways.

NEW CLOTHING Another success story had been that of the new protective clothing and lifejacket which were now being issued to life-boat crews. These were a great improvement on the old sou'wester and oilskins and Board of Trade type jacket.

The old types were cumbersome to wear and made it difficult for crews to go about their work on board their life-boats. The new life-jacket had none of these disadvantages. It was a self-righter, and if a man fell unconscious overboard the life-jacket would automatically bring him face upwards in the water.

Sir Wilfrid continued: 'The report touches briefly on many other important new developments, such as radar, new radio telephones for inshore rescue boats,re-engining and blue flashing lights for facilitating identification by aircraft. All these new developments have inevitably cost a great deal of money. As a result our expenditure last year was the highest recorded in our history. Unfortunately, our receipts were the lowest for any year since 1962, and as a result a deficit of more than £400,000 was incurred. We managed to keep our capital expenditure roughly at the same figure—which is indeed a very high figure—as last year, but expenses went up because of the increased demands on the service; and, unfortunately, there was a drop of about £200,000 in the sums received from legacies and large gifts.

'Clearly this is a serious state of affairs, and we are taking energetic steps to improve matters both by increasing revenue and by watching expenditure even more closely. In particular, we feel we ought to be able to raise larger sums in some of our big cities, and we also look especially for greater support from the many thousands of people who today are boat owners.

STRINGENT SYSTEM 'In matters of expenditure', explained Sir Wilfrid, 'the R.N.L.I. has always had a good record, comparing favourably in the proportion of its expenditure on fund-raising, administration and publicity with other major charities.

Nevertheless, in the light of our financial situation, we have introduced an even more stringent system of financial control, But clearly a service such as ours has demands made on it which have to be met, whatever the cost may be.

'The fact that we incurred such a large deficit last year has led to some misunderstanding of our policy, and it has even been suggested that we havebeen closing certain life-boat stations simply on financial grounds. Let me assure you that this is not so. In 1965, a year in which the institution hid a substantial surplus, a working party was set up to consider our future operational requirements. This working party was instructed to take many factors into account, particularly the development of new and faster rescue craft and life-boats with greater range. The review has involved analyses of services carried out by every life-boat station over a period of 11 years, as well as close consultation with people around the coast.

ALL FACTORS CONSIDERED 'Some of the results of the review are now beginning to emerge through decisions taken by the Committee of Management. For example, we have opened a new life-boat station at Lochinver. On a trial basis we have reopened the life-boat station at Harwich after a gap of more than 50 years, and a very fine new life-boat the station has. Against this, we have so far decided to withdraw conventional life-boats from five stations, replacing them where appropriate with inshore rescue boats. All these decisions have been taken as the result of close and careful consideration. Every factor, including local opinion, has been taken fully into account. The effect on fund-raising locally has also been weighed up. No life-boat station has been withdrawn unless the Committee of Management has been fully satisfied that the area concerned remains still properly served.' H.R.H. Princess Marina, in her presidential address, said: 'To my mind one of the most impressive facts in the annual report is the remarkable development of a relatively new arm of the life-boat service, that of the inshore rescue boats.

It was as recently as 1963 that these boats were first tried out operationally, yet last year they saved the lives of no fewer than 455 people and were called out nearly as often as our conventional life-boats.

'Because of the characteristics of the boats, their crews tend on the whole to be fairly young men. Indeed, in one of the outstanding inshore rescue boat services last year, carried out at New Quay in Cardiganshire, two of the three members of the crew were aged 18. It is, I think, the clearest evidence of the abiding appeal of the life-boat service, and the surest proof of its future well-being, that so many young men are volunteering for service in these small boats and carrying out their duties in such a gallant manner.

'Nevertheless, in spite of this new development the demands made on our conventional life-boats remain as great as ever. We shall shortly be hearing citations of services carried out by the crews of life-boats stationed in the Irish Republic, in the Shetland Islands and in the Scillies. These will indicate something of the dangers which our volunteer crews are still called upon to face.

A CRITICAL TIME 'The annual report and the Chairman's speech', said Princess Marina, 'have shown that the life-boat service is undergoing a critical tune financially. Much will, of course, have to be done before our difficulties are overcome, but the evidence that we shall succeed is to be found in the devoted work given by our supporters all over the country. The report does indeed show that although the total revenue declined, our branches and ladies' life-boat guilds increased their contributons by nearly £10,000 over the previous year. To them I send my warmest congratulations.' Her Royal Highness then presented awards for gallantry to the following life-boatmen after the citations had been read in detail by the Secretary, Mr.

Stirling Whorlow, O.B.E.: Coxswain Matthew Lethbridge, Jnr., St. Mary's— silver medal; Second Coxswain Ernest Guy, St. Mary's—bronze medal; MotorMechanic William Burrow, St. Mary's—bronze medal (THE LIFEBOAT, December, 1967, page 228); Coxswain Philip Byrne, Arranmore—silver medal (THE LIFEBOAT, September, 1967, page 166); Coxswain John Nicolson, Aith—silver medal (THE LIFE-BOAT, September, 1967, page 208).

Lord Mancroft, K.B.E., the guest speaker, in a scintillating and witty speech said the life-boat service was a co-operative movement. A co-operative function was something which the people of this country did particularly well.

Everyone—professionals, amateurs and laymen—all joined in the common cause, realising that one could not work without the other.

After the presentation of awards to workers by Princess Marina (page 60), Air Marshal Sir Anthony Selway, K.C.B., D.F.C., proposed a vote of thanks..