THE LIFE-BOAT. JOURNAL OF TUB IRo^al Batfonal ttfe^Boat Jnstitutfon, (ISSUED QtrABTEBLY.) VOL. XYI.—No. 185.] 2ND AUGUST, 1897. PEIOB 3d. ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. THE PAELIAMENTABY INQUIRY. THE MANAGEMENT VINDICATED AND JUSTIFIED. IN view of the constant serious and un- who it would have been imagined would founded charges against the administration have been the first to support it, it was of the Institution which have for the last finally agreed to, and the Select Com- few years been made in certain quarters mittee having been appointed held its and diligently circulated, mainly through first sitting on the 6th April last. The the medium of the Press, such charges Select Committee subsequently sat to take tending to impair and injure the great evidence twenty-four times, and on each national life-saving work which the occasion for many hours. It examined Institution has so actively carried on witnesses from all parts of the country, siiice 1824, resulting in the saving of and went most fully, carefully and ex- the lives of upwards of 40,000 ship- haustively, into every detail connected wrecked persons, the Committee of with the management of the Institution Management decided last spring to urge and the working of its life - saving the Government to agree to the early service. The Chairman of the Select appointment of a Select Committee of the Committee (Mr. C. J. CABLING, Q.C.), House of Commons to make a searching presented his Committee's Report to the inquiry into the Institution's administra- House of Commons op the 15th July, tion and the adequacy of its organization and all friends and supporters of the for saving life on our coasts. The Institution will read it with intense Government having been communicated relief and satisfaction. The verdict is with, a motion for the appointment of a clear and unmistakable, entirely vindicat- Select Committee was brought before the ing the Institution, which emerges from House by Sir ROBERT U. PENKOSE PITZ- the serious ordeal of a Parliamentary GEBALD, Bart., on behalf of the Institution, Inquiry with—as the Times has said— on the 8th March, and notwithstanding " unsullied reputation." The Report how- the motion was on several occasions ever speaks for itself and we therefore blocked by members of the Opposition, append it. VOL. XVI.—No. 185.—LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. 3 H BEPOBT FKOM THE SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON THE KOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. The first four pages of the Report give an historical sketch of the Institution, and describe its object, composition and management, after which it continues as follows:— further notice, nor have they thought it COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE INSTITUTION. necessary to consider and correct mere During the last five or six years com- exaggeration or intemperance of language plaints and charges of a very damaging in the making of charges in themselves character have been made from certain sufficiently grave. quarters against the Institution in regard Charges of gross and wilful misrepre- to its general and financial management. sentation with respect to its finances Your Committee have examined on oath having been made against the Institution, a large number of witnesses in support your Committee have felt it their duty of these allegations, and on behalf of the to investigate this matter most carefully. Institution. They have also sent a series They find that prior to 1891 the managers of questions dealing with the subject- of the Institution published in their matter of the charges to the honorary report an income and expenditure account secretaries and coxswains of the ROYAL and a list of all legacies and subscriptions NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, to received during the year, but did not Lloyd's Agents, to the coastguard officers, publish a balance-sheet, nor any statement and to receivers of wrecks at all stations of the amount of invested capital held by round the coast of Great Britain and the Institution. The income derived Ireland. Tour Committee have received from the investments was, however, fully 846 replies to these questions from shown in the income and expenditure persons to whom the facts must have account. been known and who could have no From 1891 onwards a balance-sheet ground for concealing .or misrepresenting with full details of the investments had them. It is a source of pleasure to your been included in the annual report, in Committee that these answers contain so addition to the information previously wide a testimony to the general efficiency given. Until the close of 1895 all of management and usefulness of the legacies were carried direct to the EOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. balance-sheet and treated as capital; Some of the charges made were personal, but in the accounts for the year 1896 absolutely unfounded, and have been the managers adopted the form of withdrawn by their author. Your Com- account suggested by the Charity Organi- mittee do not think them worthy of any sation Society for the hospitals receiving 2ND AUGUST, 1897.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 871 grants from the Hospital Saturday and It was further directly stated that the Sunday Fund, and included the legacies EOYAL NATIONAL LITE-BOAT INSTITUTION in their income and expenditure account so discharged this part of their duties carrying forward any balance from that that their conduct in this particular account from the balance-sheet for invest- amounts to "a policy of concealment." ment. Ever since 1891 the Institution have Tour Committee do not feel themselves published balance sheets; and every year, called on to express an opinion as to before and since that date, they have •which is the best form of account to published accounts of income and ex- adopt—accountants of equal eminence penditure, assets and liabilities, disclosing having given evidence in favour of each the exact financial condition of the Insti- form. Your Committee are, however, tution. These accounts, already alluded satisfied that both the forms of account to, are of such a character that, in the adopted since 1891 give full information opinion of your Committee, no one of as to the financial position of the Insti- ordinary intelligence could fail to ascer- tution, its income, expenditure, and in- tain from them the precise position of vested funds, and that there is no ground the Institution as regards its income, for the charges of misrepresentation or expenditure, and sources of supply — concealment brought against its managers. provided always, the accounts were Though your Committee are of opinion examined with a land fide intention of that the accounts published previous to understanding them. 1896 are perfectly intelligible to persons Your Committee consider, therefore," familiar with financial statements, they that to charge the Institution with adopt- consider that the managers acted wisely ing " a policy of concealment" is wholly in adopting in 1896 the form recom- unjustified by the facts. mended by the Charity Organisation With regard to legacies left to the Society, as being more easily compre- Institution, it was contended before hended by .the general public, who your Committee that certain of these support the Institution by their contri- had been " mis-appropriated." butions. This contention was completely dis- In particular—taking the more im- proved. In the opinion of your Com- portant allegations which it was attempted mittee, the Institution has invariably before them to substantiate as against done its best to carry out the intentions the Institution—it is stated in a magazine of testators who have entrusted it with article that "the published accounts of legacies. In many cases, however,- tes- the BOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTI- tators have hampered their bequests -with TUTION systematically conceal instead of conditions which have made it impossible disclosing the fact of the Institution immediately to give effect to their wishes. having an income of £38,000 from legacies, Many people are not content to leave a in addition to the £60,000 provided by certain sum for the general work of life- public subscriptions and investments." saving done by the Institution, but insist Your Committee find that this statement on providing a Life-boat to be placed at is absolutely unfounded. The published some point selected by the testator in accounts and Beport of the BOYAL NATIONAL advance, and, perhaps, already sufficiently LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION give details, show- supplied. ing in each year every penny received The Institution would be greatly helped from whatever source. Full particulars in its work, and seafaring men more fully of any legacies received are furnished in provided for when in danger, were money the accounts published yearly, and the left to the managers of the Institution to investments of the Institution are also use in their discretion for the objects pre- clearly set out. scribed in their charter. Thus, while __ 872 THE LIFE-BOAT. [2s0 AUGUST, 1897. any recommendation to couple the bene- ducted entirely without loss of life by factor's name with the work to be done, those engaged in it. Your Committee or to provide for a particular place, would would have .been greatly surprised if it certainly receive all consideration, the bad; seeing that the work must often be general objects of the Institution would done in conditions of the greatest danger not be hindered by conditions precedent to all concerned. difficult of immediate fulfilment. In the opinion of your Committee the It seems desirable, however, to your boats generally are well adapted for the Committee, that in the future, the Insti- work they have to perform. Your Com- tution should, in its report, show how mittee do not feel that they can recommend and when each legacy to which a specific one type of boat for adoption rather than condition is attached has been employed; another.