TAUGHT TO SWIM

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 193, 16 August 1941, Page 8

TAUGHT TO SWIM

OVER 33,000 CHILDREN

NEW RECORD FOR DOMINION

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this dav

Swimming instruction to school children of the Dominion, conducted by the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association on financial aid from the Government, achieved a new record in the number of children obtaining certificates fur 1940-41. In an advance summarv of the annual report of the association received to-dav bv the Minister of Internal Affairs. Mr. Parrv. from the honorary secretary, Mr." Baxter O'Neill, it was shown that 33.425 school children had been certified to be proficient swimmers during last season.

Since the swimming campaign among school children was started four years ago, altogether 118.565 proficiency certificates hail been issued. The growth and success of the campaign were revealed in the following return:—Season 19;;7-3S 32,002 certificates issued; 1935-39 33,052; 1939-40, 20,386; 1940-4 L 33,42..).

"The money approved bv the Government/' Mr. Parry commented -to encourage thp noble and useful art of swimming among the voung people of the Dominion, has produced splendid results. Such figures as these must ere long make'thole influence fell in reducing the annual drowning rate in the Dominion"