ROYAL LIFE-SAVING SOCIETY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14564, 15 January 1913, Page 7

ROYAL LIFE-SAVING SOCIETY.

A meeting of the committee of the Koyal Life-Saving society was held last night, Mr' F. T. Ager in the chair.

lieierence was made to the sad buthing fatalities which had occurred during yesterday afternoon at Herring Hay, and tho&e present were urged to do all in their power in connection with the co.lection on .Saturday, as funds were urgently needed. It was also urged that the local authorities should immediately define the areas which were safe for bathing. Apologies were received from tno Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. Hoilanu), Mr and Mrs H. J. Marriiu-r, Mr and Mrs J. J. Dougall, .Mr W. Johnston, and Mr 17 Nordon. Mrs Marriner and Mrs Bassett were asked to superintend the refreshments in the <St. John Ambulance rooms. Mrs Tieleaven. Mrs Dougall, and Mrs Collins signified their willingness to supervise the various stations. The men supervisors appointed were Mr Treleaven, Mr J. J. Dougall, and Mr Collins. The Tramway Board wrote .signifying "their willingness to place posters advertising the coiltction on the trams, and aho to allow subscription lists to be circulated amongst their employees. Offers of assistance were received from Messrs Bryant. Clarkson, and Collins as special collectors. TO THF. EPITOP. OF "TII_ I'R-S3. Sir, —A.low me to cxpiain through tho medium of your columns tlio principal objects of "the ltoyal Life-Saving Society, 'l'uo society was toiiueu m tne first place to teach the young, and indeed ail p-ii-sons, how to swim, float, and more 1 particularly, the manner in which to ass st persons who get into difficulties while bathing. It is a wellknown fact, and has recently been proved, that a person may be thoroughly acquainted with the art of swimming', may indeed be a strong swimmer,! yet when he endeavours to perform _ rescue, he is hampered by the clutch of the drowning person, and is thus utiabie to render any assistance whatever.! The Society in th.s Dominion is a young one, and it has only been able *to teach a limited number of peoplo theso methods. It has therefore, with the assistance of the Harbour Board, had several liife-vSaving Keels constructed, but through lack of funds ws have not been able to house the same. The Society has also felt the great need of having permanent officials stationed along the beach during the bathing months of the year. These Waterside Police, would havo to be qualified life-stivers in whom authority would be vested by the local Borough Councils. It wou.d bo part of their duties to warn persons bathing if they consider any portion of the beach dajigcrous, the distance they can proceed in the surf with saiety, aud also if the necessity arose they would bo on the scene to" render assistance. The Society at tho present time has been trying to copo with the work, and its . membeis havo voluntarily given their services, but it is too much to expect that a person who has his ordinary business to attend to, can devote his whole time to tho work. At Lyell Bay and at Manly there are officials paid by the local LifeSaving Club. It is with this end in view that we are appealing to the public for ass'stance, and wo believe that this assistance will be forthcoming, and then proper arrangements can be made for carrying out tho work. We would make a special appeal to the public for donations on behalf of our v.ork, in order that there may not be a repetition of the sad drowning fatalities sjuch as occurred recently at Sumner. Wo also trust that tho appeal which has been sent to the business men and other citV.i .is of Christchurch, will ho responded to generously, ana that the collection to be made in tho streets of Christchurch next Saturday, tho 13th of January, will receive the support of all citizens. —Yours, etc., , ~'. , B.J. AGBR, Hon. Sec.