LIFE-SAVING.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18546, 23 November 1925, Page 14

LIFE-SAVING.

• ♦ SEASON' OPENED AT SUMNER. The Sumner branch of the Royal LifeSnTiug Society opened its season r.n Saturday afternoon, in the- presence of a large attendance of members and their friends. Mr J. C. McDonald, the president, speaking from the balcony.of the pavilion, welcomed those present. He was pleaded to see so many present. There had been a consid-r-■ able increase in the dub membership, and i j 0^ 3 accorded by the public i £, he found *tion ci success. To-day they had a number of stall* and competitions. -He had nluch pleasure in asking Mr W. H. . Nicholson, ( the MUyor of Sumner, to declare the season open. Mr Nicholson declared the 3ea*bh open. Mr M. E. Lyons thanked the president for an opportunity to speak. He vas not sura yet whether he or Mr McCcanbe should be speaking. As an official of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Swimming Assocation he had taken an interest in fostering' swimming in the schools, and next to that the work of the Eoyal Life-Saving Society. He congratulated the Sumner Club on its progress,-and hoped that this year the club would send a team to compete for the Nelson Shield. Ho had seen the Sumner team compete fcr the Sir John Hall Shield, and they then had among them material to make one of the best teams in the Dominion. Mr J. McGombs (who was announced as "the other member for Lytielton"), expressed his pleasure at, steing so many present to support the good work done by th© club. At present the Government grant of <£so was too small. He and Mr D. G. Sullivan had been successful in obtaining a, considerable increase for swimming and life-saving clubs. He hoped the day was not far distant when the Government would make an increased grant. The Sumner Marine Band played ihe National Anthem and the clnb fla«r was run up half-mast out oi respect for ihe late Queen Alexandra. During the afternoon a club team, tinder Mr F. J. Glackin, gave a fine display of life-saving work under gocd water conditions. The members were> T. Climie, A. Bolara, E. G. Allen, B. Seed, J. Browne, C. Taylor, and C. S. Booth. A number of side-shows and several stalls, in charge of the lady members, worked actively in the interests of the club funds. Other lady members had charge of the afternoon tea. room and the Sumner Marino Band provided a good programme of music.