• Over the past year I have been greatly impressed by the high morale of the crews and the voluntary workers whom I have had the pleasure of meeting. I am sure that this same spirit of dedication and confidence in the R.N.L.I.'s future which I have personally encountered is to be found throughout the country.

This is the first time I have had the pleasure as Chairman of the R.N.L.I. to send a New Year Message of good wishes to our supporters, and I want to thank them all for everything they have done. We do of course face a challenging year, but much is in our favour. Some of the provisions of the last Finance Act can serve as an incentive to wealthy people to give us money in their lifetime, and I believe that with our new membership scheme we can recruit many more supporters. I feel confident that the R.N.L.I.

will enter 1974, its 150th year, in good heart and in a strong financial position..