SWIMMING PROFICIENCY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 133, 7 June 1932, Page 3

SWIMMING PROFICIENCY.

IN AUCKLAND SCHOOLS. PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES. STANLEY BAY'S PREMIERSHIP. On their third annual pilgrimage round the schools of Auckland, officials of the A.P.S. Swimming and Life-saving Association started off on a busy day at 8.40 this morning. Mr. A. Burns, chairman of the Education Board, and patron of the- Association, and Dr. J. W. Mcllwraith, senior inspector of schools, accompanied the party, which included members of the Auckland Swimming Centre and the Royal Life-saving Society. The objective was the presentation of the many trophies won at the annual gala and other tournaments, and of swimming and lifesaving championship awards—special certificates issued by the New Zealand Swimming Centre and the association. The Outstanding School. At Stanley Bay the officials were met by Mr. C. E. Browne, chairman of the school committee. The cups won by the outstanding swimming school of Auckland were presented by Mr. Burns. He congratulated the children of the school on the excellent record achieved by pupils at the annual sports, and assured them that any school in ~Sc.w Zealand would be proud to hold the seven cups which Stanley Bay had annexed this year. He emphasised the proficiency with which instruction in life-saving was undertaken in Stanley Bay. The boys' and girls' teams had "scooped the pool" in this branch, and had won all six life-saving cups that were awarded for the city and suburban area. Mr. A. MacGregor, president of the association, and a local resident, paid tribute to the headmaster, Mr. J. Gaspa rich, to whose encouragement of swimming the success of his school was due. New Teachers Qualified. At Devonport the pupils were assembled m the Parish Hall, where the swimming certificates earned during last summer and the three cups won by school representatives were handed over. Mr. Burns referred to the achievement of the school in various directions, and urged the children to persevere with swimming. Ho mentioned that the young teachers now coining out of training college were all specially qualified to give swimming and life-saving instruction, and he hoped that before lonjr all children would achieve the board's ideal —proficiency and confidence in the water. A gratifying feature illustrative of the special work at the Training College was the number of country inland schools now affiliating with the association. An idea of that body's work might be gained from the fact that in less than two years the body of which he was Pjatron bad issued to children over 6000 awards for swimming and life-saving. At Curran Street. Curran Street was made a centre for competitors in the Ponsonby district, the Leys Memorial Cup and the Nicholson Shield being presented, as well as other cups and championship awards. Dr. McIlwraith, in talking to the pupils, contrasted conditions of 50 years ago, when parents warned the young against the dangers of the water, with the general rlfsire of the day to encourage swimming. Mr. Burns congratulated Curran Street on its continued success, and commented upon the special keenness of the' girls whose relay teams had done so well. The visitors were the guests of the staff at morning tea. After lunch the itinerary included Normal. Mount Eden and Kowhai Junior High Schools. At the last named the Australian Olympic swimmers, "Boy" Charlton and Noel Ryan, were expected to join the party and speak to the pupils.