year. The sum of $85,000 was raised in its annual appeal for funds and Government added a further $75,000, making a total of $160,000 for distribution to the Missions to Seamen, the Apostleship of the Sea, the Norwegian Seamen's Mission, and the Merchant Navy Club.
79. The Missions to Seamen, a Church of England society, runs a hostel with sleeping accommodation for 160 persons for Merchant Navy officers and men of all nationalities and creeds. From April, 1954 to March, 1955, 33,233 men stayed at the hostel and 2,666 ships in the harbour were visited by staff members who arranged in collaboration with the Merchant Navy Club 400 football matches. Seamen's Welfare problems were tackled on an average of 200 a month.
80. The Apostleship of the Sea, the local branch of the world-wide Apostolatus Maris organization of the Catholic Church with Headquarters in Rome, directed its attention chiefly to the spiritual needs of Catholic seafarers, but in its welfare activities no distinction of creed or race is made. Samaritan work among distressed seafarers continued and the St. Nicholas Catholic Club made its facilities available to the crews of all merchant shipping passing through the port.
81. The Norwegian Seamen's Mission held regular services at their new Headquarters in Cox's Road and paid frequent visits to ships and hospitals.
The
82. At the Merchant Navy Club, football was played extensively during 1954/55 with a total of 377 games. ship's football league was won by "s.s. Tasik Malaja”.
83. The Committee of another welfare project, the Mer- cantile Marine Assistance Fund, dispensed $18,000 allocated by Government, in helping aged seafarers or their dependants, and seamen in distress.
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