60 years ago From The Life-Boat of 1935 Usually this column illustrates how much the world of lifeboats has changed. Occasionally, however, in the pages of a slightly yellowing journal are words which stand out as being as true today as the day they were written. In 1935 thejournal reprinted afeaturefrom 'The Times', and the words of the then chairman, Sir Godfrey Baring BT, would be as appropriate if they appeared in same paper today - only the figures have changed! The life-boat service Is voluntary. That, I think, is the most remarkable thing about it, more remarkable than its boats, more remarkable even than the courage of its men. It necessarily has its paid staff, but the greater part of its work is done by volunteers.

It is managed by a voluntary committee. Its stations are controlled by honorary committees and secretaries.

Its life-boatmen, although rewarded for every occasion on which they go out in the life-boat are volunteers.

They earn their living in other ways. They go out on each service of their own free will.

The Institution's funds are collected by thousands of voluntary workers. They are subscribed by tens of thousands of voluntary contributors. There can be no more striking instance in our history of the people themselves assuming a great national duty, and for over a century successfully carrying it out.

It is one thing to undertake such a duty in the first fine careless rapture. It is quite another to continue to perform it in the face of difficulties and developments undreamed of by the founders. That the life-boat service has remained voluntary through the immense changes of 111 years, is a signal triumph for the voluntary principle. It is one of those triumphs in which the British people particularly delight-a great practical success for something which, in theory, seems wrong.

What, it might well be said, could be more absurd than that in a country whose very existence depends on the sea, the protection of its seafarers from shipwreck should be the work of a private society? And what could more delightfully point the absurdity than that the State should solemnly assume the duty-as it did by the Merchant Shipping Act of 1854-and then continue to leave it to others to carry out.

The success of the Institution has shown the wisdom of our legislators in knowing when to leave well alone; and their wisdom has been signally confirmed by the example of other countries. Sixteen have national life-boat services. In only four are they maintained by the state. In the other twelve they are voluntary. It is still more remarkable that four of those twelve countries- Germany, Norway, Sweden and Spain-first tried a State service and afterwards found it necessary either to supplement it or replace it by a voluntary service.

The finest tribute to the success of the life-boats as a voluntary service is that even those who believe in nationalization would not nationalize them. The Institution is proud of four things-its crews; its record; the fact that it has the support of men and women of every class; and the fact that every party is agreed that the life-boats can best carry on their work as a voluntary service..