LIFE-SAVING

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22268, 6 December 1937, Page 17

LIFE-SAVING

WAIMAIRI BEACH CLUB OPENING OF SEASON The 1937-38 season of the Waimairi Beach Surf Bathing and Life-Saving Club was officially opened yesterday afternoon. In declaring the season open, Mr A. R. Blank, the president, said that after many years of very useful work the club had nearly become defunct, as it had been in debt to tile extent of £240. However, the Waimairi County Council had come to the club’s rescue with a contribution of £25, and others had made gifts, so that now it was certain that the club would be able to carry on. He wished to thank the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, who had helped with advice. Considering that £2400 was the lowest estimate placed on the value of a single life in New Zealand, it would have been regrettable that a club with such a record for life saving should close down for the want of a tenth of that sum. The surf clubs were, he continued, deserving of assistance, not from the Government alone, but from every bather. It was obviously unfair to expect young fellows to give liberally of their time and to risk their lives for the safety of others, and to bear the burden of financing the club in addition. Mr C Morgan Williams, M.P., said that he did not know exactly what the Government intended to do to assist surf clubs. He had approached the Hon. W. E. Parry (Minister for Internal Affairs! and suggested that some of the profits from art unions should be allocated to surf clubs, but the Minister had informed him that he and the Government had definitely decided that art union profits should be used solely for the relief of distress. He had, however, been assured by Mr Parry that a substantial sum was being made available for the use of surf and life-saving clubs, and that it would be handed to the National Surf Association for distribution. A demonstration of life saving, under the new' rules was given by a New Brighton Surf Club team comprising A. T. F. Stokes, M. Butterlck, E. Ansley, M. Marks, C. Mackenzie, W. Horsfall, and I. Carson (instructor); a four-man demonstration was given by a Waimairi team comprising D. Fyfe, D. Cobden, E. Sedgley, and D, Hylands (captain and instructor), and a round-the-buoy race was won by A. Ansley. New Brighton (40sec handicap), the runner-up being A. Cocks, New Brighton (30sec). with R. Kennedy, North Beach (25sec), in third place.