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Press, Volume LX, Issue 18242, 28 November 1924, Page 8

The double fatality at North Beach ou Wednesday was all the moro tragic because it might wjfh better organisation have been avoided, If there had been someone on the spot whoso business it was to watch for the' first sign of distress from any bather, it is probable that ono man at least of tho two would have beeh saved. For in puch circumstances a very few minutes means the difference between lifo and death, and at a popular battling placo many minutes can bo wasted in a vain endeavour to attract attention, A wavo a little bigger than usual, or a sudden seizure of cramp, may suddenly threaten a trago'dy even among careful surfers, and there are five chances to two that the call will not come on a Saturday or Sunday, when the volunteer lifesavers are on the beach. We hope, therefore, that tho Boyal Life-saving Society's recommendation that permanent patrolmen be appointed at Brighton and Sumner will be put into effect before tho summer is much further advanced. It js a case in which the local bodies should act together, since the beach is the playground of the whole city.