MISS GWITHA SHAND.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17624, 29 November 1922, Page 2

MISS GWITHA SHAND.

CIVIC WELCOME. A civic reception was given in the City Council Chambers yesterday to Miss Gwitlia Shand, the young Christchurch lady swimmer who represented the Dominion so successfully at the recent swimming carnival at Honolulu. There was a krge gathering of swimming enthusiasts and others, including Mr W. E. D. Bishop, president of the Council of the New Zealand Swimming Association; Mr H. S. Wilson, president of the Canterbury Centre; and Miss Annette Kellerman, the wellknown Australian swimmer and "movie" 6tar.

Ike Mayor (Dr. Thacker) said that his duty in welcoming home Miss Sliand was unique. Miss Stand had succeeded in annexing world championship honours at Honolulu, and New Zealand had reason to be proud of her. Miss Shand was the peisimification of modesty; in fact, she was too modest of her achievement. He considered that she would yet achieve great .sucee-s at the Olympic Games. Miss Shand came from Opawa, one of the garden suburbs of Christchurch, and the home of the lato Anthony Wilding. New Zealand had done remarkably well in the world' of athletics. He would refer to such names as thoso of Anwionv Wilding, | Richard Arnst, William Webb, Peter | Hill and Phil O'Shea ana the All Blnck footballers. Speaking of Miss Kellerman, the Mayor said that that lady was well acquainted with the beach at Waikiki, Honolulu, and was firmlv of the opinion that in the Dominion there were beaches that were equally as great. If these and the other scenic attractions of New Zealand were made known, thousands of visitors would flock to these shores. The Mayor strongly advocated 1 swimming being made compulsory in all schools. Mr Bisl:op congratulated Miss Shand and Miss Hoeft on their great performances, it was only a few years ago, he said, since- Miss Shand had been discovered as a swimmer, and now she wns one of the foremost lady swimmers of the world. He sincerely hoped that it would be possible to send her to represent the Dominion at the Olympic Games. Miss Shand had been brought out by swimming being taught to school children, and he hoped that more attention would be paid to tlfls subject. Mr Bishop also' paid a tribute to Miss Annette Kellerman, who, he said, had taken a great interest in the encouragement of swimming among the girls of the Dominion, and had presented a cup for competition among long-distance swimmers. In the speaker's opinion, greater attention should be paid to distance swimming than was done at present. Mr A. Goodhart, president of the Opawa Swimming Club, expressed the great pleasure the club felt at Miss Shand's success. With regard to Miss Kellerman, he also felt proud of her as he was an Australian'himself, and his wife had gone to school with Miss Kellerman. He 'agreed with Mr Bishop that more attention should be paid to long distance swimming. He was very pleased to think that such a little place as the Dominion could produce a swimmer who could hold her own among the finest swimmers of the world. Miss Shand was a good little sport in every sense of the world and he understood that among her qualifications was the ability to wield a golf stick with good effect. Mr L. M. Isitt welcomed Miss Shand i on behalf of the members of Parliament. Although Miss Shand might not know it, he said, she was a great commercial asset to the Dominion, having done much to advertise it' by her prowess in the water. ,"**' Mr D. G. Sullivan welcomed Mis 3 Shand on behalf of the City Council. He paid a. tribute to her modesty anil eagerness at all times to assist young swimmers. Wtih regard to the question of teaching swimming in schools, he me tioned that Dr. T.uby King, had informed him that he would like to see it made compulsory, • even if to do to would mean dropping another subject. On the ■ call of the Mayor, three cheers were given for Misses Shand and Kellerman, those present also singing "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows." The Mayor then warmly shook hands with Miss Shand. On rising to reply, Miss Shand was warmly applauded. She returned thanks for the welcome given her, stating that while she had enjoyed her trip, she was at the same time very pleased to be back m Christchurch again. Miss Kellerman said that when she first saw Miss Shand in the tepid bath at Christchurch, she recognised in her a coming world's champion. She said to herself: "Here is a girl who is going to be a credit to her sex." Miss Shand could go to any part of the world and people would say to her: 'lsn't she a dear little lady.' Miss Shand embodied every quality a lady athlete should possess. She was pretty, she had a lovely physique, she was modest and she was always a lady, j (Applause). Subsequently Misses Shand and Kellerman, together with the Mayor and a number of others were filmed standing in the doorway of the Council Chambers.