LIFE SAVING

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27796, 22 October 1955, Page 12

LIFE SAVING

ASSISTANCE FOR NEW CLUBS

PRESIDENT’S REPORT TO ASSOCIATION

“It is not the policy of this association to form new clubs and then to leave them high and dry,’’ said the retiring president of the Canterbury Surf and Life-saving Association (Mr L. J. Sutherland) at the annual meeting of the association. He was referring to suggestions for forming new clubs at more distant beaches. “We will, however, assist in every way all groups of surfers who are making an honest effort to set up new clubs,” said Mr Sutherland. Mr L. J Tointon said that every endeavour should be made to help the new clubs at Leithfield Beach, Waikuku' Beach. Little Akaloa, and beaches further afield.

Mr Sutherland, who relinquished nis position because of ill-health, was congratulated on his work for the association over many years. A letter was received from the Taylor’s Mistake Club asking for permission for their women’s team to compete on an equal footing and to be judged with junior men’s teams. At present the team competes only once a year at the national championships. It was decided to refer the request to the incoming executive. In his annual report Mr Sutherland said that clubs affiliated to the association had made 43 rescues during the season—the greatest number for some years. The Sumner club, according to the report, was in the embarassing position of having a “first-class” pavilion but no beach. Furthermore, said the report, the beach showed no signs of returning.

The following officers were elected: Patron, Mr G. D. Griffiths; president, Mr S. B. Mason; vice-presidents, Messrs A. I. Cottrell, C. C. Cauldweil. and D. M. Richardson; secretary, Mr G. S. Brockett; chief instructor, Mr G. Pratley; assistant secretary, Mr O. W. Pitcaithly; gear inspector, Mr D. Tarrant; treasurer, Mr H. Goldsmith; honorary auditor, Mr D. Frost; registrar, Mr J. Hulme; chief examiner, Mr F. Mitchell; publicity officers, Messrs L. J. Tointon, G. B. Wilson, and B. A. Moir; honorary solicitor, Mr V. G. Spiller; delegate to N.Z.S.L.A., Mr A. Main; delegate to Pioneer Sports Club, Mr D. M. Richardson. 12,226 AWARDS LAST YEAR HOLGER-NEILSEN METHOD WELL ESTABLISHED The Holger-Neilsen method of artificial respiration has been in operation for more than two years and, according to the annual report of the 1 New Zealand Council of the Royal Life Saving Society, it is now thoroughly established both within and without the society. “Nearly 10,000 award holders have become proficient operators during the year, while, both the council and branches have dealt with many re- . quests from organisations other than those concerned with saving life from drowning, for information and for assistance with lectures, demonstrations and classes of instruction,” the report says. Some indication of the volume of instruction carried out by the society’s honorary instructors—most of them post-primary school teachers —is given by the issue of 12,226 awards for life-saving ability during the year, says the report. Auckland has* almost one-third of The total number of awards and Canterbury, Taranaki, and Wellington among them, just over one-third. The Wigram Shield, awarded by the society to the branch gaining the greatest percentage increase in award points over the average of the two previous years, was won by Otago with 1149 points—an increase of 72.52 per cent. Canterbury was nlaced second, Taranaki third, and Auckland fourth.

The Epsom Girls’ Grammar School with 972 awards. 186 of which were Bronze Medallions, won the Bamford Shield for the organisation gaining the greatest number of awards during the year ended May 31.