LIFE-SAVING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 203, 28 August 1935, Page 9

LIFE-SAVING.

HAMILTON CLUB. AUCKLANDERS AT MEETING. Concern at the number of lives lost in the Waikato River through drowning has led to the formation of a Hamilton Lifesaving Club. The initial meeting of this organisation was held last evening, Mr. W. J. King presiding. Delegates were present from the Auckland Head Centre of the Royal Life-saving Society and the Auckland Surf Life-saving Association. Reporting on the work of a special committee set up to make investigations into the question of forming a club, Mr. King 6tated that it was unanimously decided by the committee that a club should be immediately organised. It was necessary at the jjoutset to have a welltrained team of life-savers, who could coach school children and other members of the club. The presence in Hamilton of Mr. E. B. Lowe, a fully trained and qualified surfman, who was formerly a member of the Eastern United (Brown's Bay) Club, would be a distinct asset to the new club, said Mr. A. Gardiner, chairman of the Auckland Surf Life-saving Association, who outlined the practical work of lifesaving employed by both controlling bodies. He advised a system of patrols at strategic points on the river banks and advocated the use of individual box-line outfits, comprising specially constructed boxes containing a standard surf lifesaving belt and life line. This line was over 400 yards long and the whole outfit could be easily handled by one man. Mr. A. McGregor, president of the Auckland Centre of the Royal Society, congratulated the meeting on the enthusiasm displayed and the manner in which the new club had been formed. Short talks on life-saving methods were given by Messrs. D. F. .T. Langley, K. C. Reid and H. C. Sidford, Auckland delegates to the meeting. Officers elected: Patron, the Mayor. Mr. •J. R. Fow; president, Mr. .W. J. King; vice-presidents. Messrs. A. E. Manning, IT. D. Caro. R. T. Reid. C. W. Lopdell, C. L. Xicholls. S.JT. Nolan, W. H. Paul, E. Wilson and W. Fraser; general committee (with power to add),* Messrs. E. E. Roskruge. E. Thorpe, A. Fowles. L. I. Pay, E. H. Grooott and Dr. G. W. Gower; club captain and chief instructor, Mr. E. B. Lowe; joint secretaries, Mr. W. R. Wiggins and Miss B. Robinson: delegate to Royal Life-saving Society, Mr. A. H. Boulton.