SURF LIFE SAVING

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21258, 1 September 1934, Page 14

SURF LIFE SAVING

I VALUE OF NATIONAL i ORGANISATION POLICY OF CENTRAL BODY DEFINED The policy of the New Zealand Surf Life-Saving Association was defined by Mr N. A. Ingram, of Wellington, a member of the council of the association, at a meeting of the Canterbury Surf Life-Saving Association last evening. He discussed with the delegates Canterbury's attitude towards the central body, and referred to the importance of national organisation of surf life-saving work in New Zealand. A motion of confidence in the New Zealand Council was carried unanimously at the conclusion of the meeting. The Canterbury Association did not join the national body when it was founded two years ago, but it has since affiliated.

Mr D. V. Wilson presided over the t meeting. 2 Mr Ingram said that he wished to - ciispel the idea that there was friction f between the New Zealand Council and f Hie Canterbury Association. His visit " had been made purely under the usual " understanding that when a member of 2 the council in Wellington was in another centre he should endeavour to [ meet officials there. The work of the j Canterbury Association was much appreciated by officials in Wellington, ! but it had been realised that a national j organisation was essential. The great work done in the centres could be considerably improved by affiliation - to a national body. If that body was , strong enough the Government could , be persuaded to give assistance to surf : work. The value of an average man's • life to the community was £3OOO, and it could be realised by this what valuable work the surf clubs were doing. National Control Essential In 1931 he had gone to Australia, and • he had been amazed at the organisa- . lion there. He had thought that in , New Zealand with even one-tenth of the amount of that organisation a won- ! derful work could be done. The New Zealand Surf Council had set out to ; bring together not only surf associa- ' tions but all of the 43 surf clubs in the Dominion. If any progress was to be made, the various clubs and associations must be nationalised. There were excellent opportunities for surf : work in New Zealand, and thousands of children in the schools were clamouring for a knowledge of surf life- ; saving. The national organisation had been in operation only two years; he admitted that it was incomplete, but it invited constructive criticism. The council did not want to dictate a policy for surf work throughout New Zealand, but to obtain the opinions and co-operation of all associations and clubs in the formation of a policy. The council was endeavouring to put the work on a higher plane than it had reached before; one of its ideals was to create a great public interest in surf work. . , One of the objects of the national association was to get the most competent judges for the New Zealand championships. Finance might be a stumbling block now, but this the council would set out to overcome. It would ensure a continuity of policy in the appointment of judges. He considered that New Zealand could reach as high a standard of efficiency as Australia, taking all conditions into I consideration. Stimulating More Interest Mr Ingram suggested that something ' mii'hl be done to establish a surf club j in Timaru. The Timaru beach might i be a verv safe one. but there was a necessity'' for a surf club on every beach iii New Zealand. Even the safest beaches had their accidents. He also had thought that a sub-association, or even a full association, might be established on the West Coast. It was uruy by going outside and creating public interest that the position of the i surf associations could be strength- ! encd. ~. , . . The New Zealand Councils object i was not onlv to govern national com- : petitions, but to do educational work. ! There was much to be done m the I teaching of children. The council was not a provincial body; it aimed at solidarity, and if the Canterbury association was not satisfied with it he hoped that any criticisms would be sent ■straight" to the council. ! Mr Wilson said that it was not In I the best interests of the association to have final central control vested in an outside body. He considered that Canterbury, with the position it held, was at least entitled to a better arirangoment in the allocation of the New I Zealand championships than at present. Surf life-saving was in an exceptionally stromi position in Canterbury, and it 'was growing still stronger. Much ■had been done to stimulate interest in Timaru and on the West Coast. The major difficulties were not so much the various points Mr Ingram had raised, but the circumstances in which the New Zealand Council had come into existence, and the way control was vested. Canterbury's Interest Localised The honorary secretary (Mr A. 1. Cottrell) said that a greater amount of rescue work was done by the Canterbury association than by any other association, and the clubs here were fully occupied with carrying out that work and raising sufficient funds for it. It was because of these conditions that interest here had been localised, The formation of a New Zealand body did not affect Canterbury. Mr Ingram said that the New Zealand council, which consisted of delegates from the associations had done all it could to respect Canterbury's ideals. He was opposed to any distinction between the North and South Islands. The New Zealand Surf Association was a section of the Royal Life Saving Society; if the surf interests wanted to separate they knew how to go about it; but personally he would regret to see this done. Mr Wilson said he considered Milligram's explanation of the situation entirely satisfactory to Canterbury. On the motion of Mr C. A. Cooper, Mr Ingram was thanked and confidence in the New Zealand council was expressed.

PROTECTION OF THE BEACHES DEPUTATION TO GOVERNMENT TO I?E ORGANISED A deputation to the Government will be organised probably during the present session of Parliament asking for assistance for the surf clubs of the Dominion in the protection of the beaches. The expense and trouble borne by the clubs, particularly those ot Canterbury, were emphasised at a meeting of the Canterbury Surf LifeSaving Association last evening, and an undertaking was given by Mr N. A. Ingram, a member of the council ot the New Zealand Surf Life-Saving Association, that ho would organise a deputation to the Government during (lie present session, if the support of the various associations were given. Several references were made during the meeting to the amount of work done by the surf clubs in the protection of the beaches, particularly to the work of beach patrols, and the difficulty of raising sufficient finance to employ them. Mr A. I. Cottrell, honorary secrc-

tarv of the association, asked Mr Ingram if it would be possible for »» national body to ask for some assistance lor the clubs. The maintenance ot beach patrols on the Canteruuiy .beaches as in previous seasons «» essential, and it appeared that a lather patrol might be necessary on "«• southern portion of the New nngnio.i beach. Willi the beaches and *i" l thronged wii'.- people, narticu any children, during the holidays, tftcre was grave danger, and from me imports of the patrols it. could be set" that if supervision were not maintained there would be an alarms number of accidents. , c . Mr Ingram suggested that r: " :n ' l : s sociation should approach its '■* em °r: t of Parliament and enlist their suppwjj If this were done, a strong case couiu be presented. He would undertake to arrange a deputation if the asscciauo" would give support. , , „, lf i Mr Ingr. m s offer wa - a. ccpi lu , . it was decided to appro.ien of Parliament in Car.tcroiiry.