LIFE SAVING

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22002, 28 January 1937, Page 15

LIFE SAVING

—_♦ MEETING OF N.Z. COUNCIL

STANDARD OP EXAMINATION

Some repercussions of the discussion on the standard of examination in life saving were felt at the meeting of the New Zealand Council of the Royal Life Saving Society last evening. Mr G. E. Billson presided. The Canterbury Centre wrote objecting to the implication that its examiners were inefficient. They were easily the best in the country, it was stated, and a visitor to England who had done some examining there had said that the standard in Canterbury was higher than in England. The Canterbury examiners were very carefully chosen. The number was limited to 12, so that there was some competition for a place. Examiners were retired as soon as they showed any slackening of interest. There was a by-law to the effect that classes of more than six should have more than one examiner, and another to the effect that an award of merit examination must have two examiners.

The Otago Centre wrote also, stating that in its opinion a council official should make periodical visits to the various centres to test examiners. It was decided to send a letter of sympathy to Mr C. R. Riordan in the death of his mother.

A complaint was received from the Auckland Centre that there had been a delay in the forwarding of bronze bars. The Auckland Centre had written to the central executive in England complaining about, the delay. . Mr F. J. Glackin explained that all orders received from Auckland had been immediately sent on to England.

Mr Billson said that the council was not to blame in tho matter. It had done everything it could. It was impossible to make the bars in New Zealand on account of the high cost, and it was impossible, too, to keep supplies in hand, as the council could not afford to have any left over. The secretary was asked to write to Auckland to this effect.

All branches having approved, the council decided to recommend to the central executive that Mr V. Allen, a prominent official of the Wellington branch, be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.