5000 TAUGHT TO SWIM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 65, 18 March 1938, Page 9

5000 TAUGHT TO SWIM.

SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN. Five thousand people were taught to swim during the "learn-to-swim" campaign conducted throughout the Auckland district by the Auckland branch of the National Committee of Swimming and Life-Saving. This was revealed in a report presented to a meeting of the organising committee last night. Great interest in swimming had been shown, and the campaign achieved remarkable success. 7t was noted with satisfaction that school teachers were highly enthusiastic. Typical of their excellent work were results from Newton Central School, where 10H were taught swimming, Ponsonliy (K>f>), Welleslev Street <■'>(>) and Waimaukii (13). At the I'onsnnhy School IHO pupils had been nonswimmers prior to the campaign. The report called attention to the lack of bathing facilities at present. Kvon though drowning had for years been one of the two principal causes of death in New Zealand, hardly a local body was aware of the need for swimming pools. . Furthermore, the report stated, within the metropolitan area the committee met an obstacle in the refusal ot schools with baths to allow them to be used by other schools. Only three such pools were made available, namely, those at King's College, the teachers Trainin« College and Gladstone School However, the. campaign had equipped many people with a safeguard for their lives The toll of drowning was still ]'(>;,vv, the report added, and therefore future campaigns must be organised with more thoroughness and p with greater energy.