LIFE-SAVING.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18672, 22 April 1926, Page 14

LIFE-SAVING.

CANTERBURY CENTRE. The Canterbury Centre of the Royal LifeSaving Society held a meeting last night. Present: Messrs K. Bassett (chairman), Y. J. Scott, A. Wilkinson, F. J. Glackin, C. Smith, E. A. Chivers, K. Barrett, P. R. 'Dinnie, A. D. dheppurd, Miss D. Brown, Miss A, M. Cowley, Mrs. L. M. Davics, and Air V. G. Spiller (hon. secretary). The Heathcote County Council wrote stating that £& is had been placed on trie estimates as a donation to the mnds.

bir Hanry Wigraru wroie agreeing lo the wishes of the committee in altering the conditions of the shield and cui>.

With respect to the. Monka Thackcr Shield competition to-night, the chairman said that, the public would bo admitted when the bath was clear of ordinary swimmers, providing they paid the ordinary fee. It was decided to recommend that the next contest for the Nelson Shield be held in Wellington, cither before- or after the surf championships. It was decided' to inform schools entering ■ teams in the life-saving contests, that while appreciating the work done by members of teams year after year, the Society would welcome junior teams as well in the competition with the object of widening the scope of the work. Messrs J. L. Struthers and E. A. Chivers were added to the list of examiners. A sub-committee set up to report on the teaching of life-saving in schools reported:— (1) That - all available hon. instructors (and they are very few) be urged to attach themselves voluntarily to a convenient school as soon as practicable _ (2) Further, in connexion with the imparting of instruction, that the instructors do not waste their energies on merely polishing up email numberß (generally only 4) of swimmers already qualified up to proficiency standard, but that for competitions if they must continue under present conditions new swimmers, hot previously taught life-saving should be the chosen candidates and competitors. " (3) That every possible' effort be made to bring all our schools' competitions into line with the examination awards, method of competition,, so that there is nd wastage of effort on the part of the. very few life; giving instructors.; ■ ..■• • ;• (i) To have the same or partially the same members of a team competing year after year for the same trophy is not in the best interests of our work, as there- is no new work accomplished. The report was adopted. The following awards-were approved:Elementary Certificates— Kongi-Kuru i, Sylvia E. Cook. Betty, S. Wlshart (mrtructed by Miss A. Orbell, examined by M>»s D. Brown); New Brighton .School 4. Gerald J. Gowan, Fergus J. Gallagher Kenneth F. Wright, William G. Good (instructed by Mr EH Ward, examined by Mr E. A. Chivers). Proficiency Certificates - Chr.stchurch Ladies' A.S.O. 5,: Theresa Mornssey, Dorothy Feaver, May Pawsey EWne Terns, Sad* Hammersley (instructed by Miss D. Brown, fxamined by Messrs P. G Bwtoi « A Chivers):' Rangi-Ruru 4, Sylvia i. oook, Florence K.' Cannon/ Dorothy Pettey, Be y Wishart (instructed by Miss A. Orben, examined by Miss D. Brown). ■ , .-. Bronze Lad.es A.S.C. 6, Theresa Mornssey, porothy leaver, Elaine Terris, Lily Terris, Sadie Hampersley May'Pawsey ; (instructed -.by D. Browr 7 examineo?;bV n Mess«_Bamford and Chiveri; Technical College-2, Victor El ree man Sdnay E. Loader • (instructed by Mr H Money? examined by Mr P.O. Bamford) Teachers' Certificate— Rangi-Ruru, Audroy A. Ortiell (examined by Miss• D. Brown. The "chief secretary wrote .^P™ the receipt of the minutes of the last «.cu♦Wa mfietine. He stated: "I nave not ine Ist Idea what laused the dissolution of the Dominion Executive;. the fact » *** ««* t,ion was never considered by the central Executive hmo. ■ AJI that ; the Central Executive were asked to do was to read nrove of the proposed. new rules that were Submitted, which' they f did and disagreed with them. . The point, had nothing whatever to do -with the Dominion Executive Council. At their meeting the Central. Executive, however, decided that in order to prevent what happened under the diroction of Ihelale honorary secretary that aU branches in Now Zealand should have the right to order their supplies direct from here, and so prevent them being" held up as they were The Dominion Executive Council did good' work, only a feeling seems to have arisen for central control, We hero.have all along beon in favour of branches having full liberty to carry out the objects of the Society. That system has been found best for all and I firmly believe that the trouble has arisen because of the carefully thoughtout nlan on the part of someone, who l think is well known to, us here, to injure the work of the Royal; Life-Saving Societjin New Zealand; hence the object of those remarkablo rules, dissolution etc., to say nothing of turning the Society into a sort of sporting organisation, instead of promoting life-saving SB originally intended. i hope that alltho New Zealand branches wil fight shy of any attempt, of a repetition of the work which was designed to smash them. I have already written to Mr Bamford and told him that so far as the Central Executive was concerned tho Dominion Executive Council exists,, providing the various branches appoint their, representatives to act on that Council, and not leave it to one individual to try to smash the lotl " .