HELP WANTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 10

HELP WANTED.

" LEARN TO .SWIM." i PUBLIC - bO-OPERATION. SAFETY OF AUCKLAND FOOLS. ': An appeal, for .iiic rpuljlic's" co-opeva-•tion in .-tlie National. Learn-16-S\\ini campaign now in progress, lias been made. l>y^tr.' F. 6., X)unn, Clinstelmreli, president- of; the, Xe\v. Zealand Amateur SwinnniiVg'Association. _. "As, • the authority controlling swimming ,in Xew Zealand," said: Mr. Dunn, "tlie association realises .tliat, if'its ambition to", make; every New Zealaiuler i swimi iiier is to be attained, it liinst.liave the, .full co-opern.tion of all parents and.non- , swimmers.;. V.'lt .therefore appeals to all those wlio "cannot swiin, or who have children who cannot swim, to make it their business to get; ill touch 'witli. the , secretary of the ° nearest'/.swimming club, so ' that arrangements, may be made to provide ; "the . ' necessary' instruction, • which, of . course', will be entirely free. "Instructors, have had .explained..to them by qualified coaches" the simplified method* of instruction, adopted for the purposes'of the campaign.'. Finally; the association would, point 'but that it is quite possible- that valuable lives may lie saved in the. future by those taught in the. present great effort." . The interest of surf, life-savers in the campaign was expressed by the president of the New. Zealand. Surf Lifelaying Association, ifr. F. Coira, oT"Wellington, .who is also ahairnian of the National Committee of Swimming-and Life-saving. "The surf clubs," said Mr. Qoira,' "will do all in their power to I fulfil the objects of, the campaign. "As chairman of the organising committee, I must.comment .on the wonderful spirit shown by swimmers and surfmen alike, and by. others'who are assisting with instruction, especially in country districts. It is the duty of every non-swimmer' to learn "to swim during February. A special duty falls upon parents to encourage their children to take lessons." Some inquiries have been received by local authorities as- to safety of baths for swimming, and regarding the possible danger of infection. Dr. T. H. Pet tit. president of the Auckland_Swimk ming Centre and also of the Auckland Surf Life-saving Association, states that there is 110 danger whatever in either tlie Tepid or the Mount Eden baths. The Health Department has expressed complete satisfaction with the results of • tests carried out several times daily at the baths. • "Safer Than Drinking Water." "In fact," says Dr. IVllit, "from what [ I have been told by the .Medical Oflieer ■ for Health. Dr. T. j. Hughes, the water at both pools' is in lictter condition than drinking water." The Auckland City' Council and the ' Mount Eden Borough Council have installed filtration plants at the pools, and these are functioning perfectly. ' Teste taken at the baths show that there is rarely more "than" 5-8 bacteria per ' 1000 cubic centimetres of water. Some-! . times the test has a negative result. The safety standard for drinking \ water is about 200 bacteria per 1000 cubic centimetres, and between 100 and ' 200 bacteria is considered absolutely r safe. II; may lie seen, .therefore, that , there is 110 danger of infection from the : water at the pools. .■ ■' "I hope."' said Dr. Fettit in conclusion, "that parents and. the public ' generally will .realise the safety of ; the. •' water, aiid will take advantage of the I Learn-to-Swim campaign."