(continued from page 51} shipping industry could well appreciate the financial problems of the RNLI and the hard decisions which it has had to face. The shipping industry knows all about inflation and the desperately serious problems which it creates in trying to maintain and replace merchant fleets. If the struggle were not made, the British shipping industry, still among the world leaders, would steadily decline both in absolute and in relative terms.

That would be a tragedy for the country, whether in peace or war.

British shipping as an industry has, in fact, spent more than £4,000 million over the last ten years building the modern, technologically advanced and well-manned fleet it has today.

British shipping had been asked, Lord Inchcape continued, whether, as an industry concerned so directly with the sea, it could assume some greater responsibility towards the RNLI. A long look was being taken at what was by no means a simple straightforward problem and there were several strands of thinking: the voluntary contributions already made to the lifeboat service by many shipping companies, the aggregate of which is quite substantial; the comparative number of calls on the lifeboat service by pleasure boats, British and foreign shipping; and whether, if any scheme were brought in by statutory authority, such as additions to port and light dues charged in foreign countries, it would strike at the voluntary basis of the RNLI—this the shipping industry was sure would be wrong. Lord Inchcape continued: 'However, we as an industry are convinced that the work of the RNLI must continue efficiently and well. We are convinced, too, that the voluntary basis on which it is founded must continue.

We wish to preserve the voluntary nature of the financial contributions which British shipping makes to the Institution because otherwise we are convinced that any scheme of a compulsory nature would be the thin edge of a very large and unwelcome wedge. We would like, too, to find some means whereby foreign ships using our ports and coasts could contribute. We think this would be right and we think that in the main they would welcome il because they value the services of the RNLI as we do.

'All in all, Mr Chairman, we think we have some ideas and suggestions which would be of help to you and which would draw together these various strands in our thinking. We would like, therefore, before very long to sit down with you and your colleagues, and discuss what might be done, and how . . . Mr Chairman, My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have great pleasure in moving the resolution which is before you. May I especially associate the General Council of British Shipping with the tribute it embodies.

The resolution is: 'That this meeting, fully recognising the important 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 lifeboats, and its deep obligation to the local committees, honorary secretaries and honorary treasurers of all station branches; to all other voluntary committees and supporters and to the honorary officers and thousands of voluntary members of the financial branches and the ladies' lifeboat guilds in the work of raising funds to maintain the service' Presentations were then made by General Farrant to those who have been voted awards for long and distinguished honorary services. Unfortunately Mrs Carman, Mr Graham, Mr Morrison, Mrs Platts and Mrs Orr were unable to be present.

HONORARY LIFE GOVERNOR Mrs A. M. Jacobs President of Gourock ladies' guild since 1951; awarded gold badge in 1964.

BAR TO GOLD BADGE Mrs R. S. Carman Member of Llanelli branch since 1962; awarded gold badge in 1960, statuette in 1965, letter of thanks in 1974.

Mrs G. Mansell President of the Bridge Committee, Central London Committee; awarded gold badge in 1960.

GOLD BADGE Mrs E. L. Coppack Honorary secretary of Connah's Quay and Shotton branch since 1952; awarded silver badge in 1963.

A. Graham President of New Quay (Dyfed) station branch since 1936.

Mrs. B. J. Harding Honorary secretary of Seaton and Beer District branch since 1941; awarded silver badge in 1969.

N. MacMillan Honorary secretary of Islay station branch since 1956.

H. N. Morrison, MBE Honorary secretary and treasurer of Barra Island station branch since 1946: awarded binoculars in 1957 and barometer in 1968.

Mrs S. Q. Platts Honorary treasurer of Bristol ladies' guild since 1956; awarded silver badge in 1967.

Mrs W. M. Ponsonby Committee member of Bristol ladies' guild since 1937; awarded silver badge in 1966.

Mrs L. Orr President of Chanonry ladies' guild from 1969 to 1976; awarded statuette in 1964.

Mrs J. Reid Vice-chairman of Peterhead station branch and president of Peterhead ladies' guild (retired 1974); awarded silver badge in 1960 and statuette in 1965.

J. Tyrrell, FRINA Honorary secretary of Arklow station branch since 1951; awarded binoculars 1960 and barometer 1972.

With the moving of a resolution of a hearty vote of thanks to Lord Inchcape by Maldwin Drummond, a member of the Committee of Management, the business of the afternoon was concluded and everyone moved out to the foyer to meet friends, perhaps from a distant part of the coast or country, and take tea at the end of a good day..