Surf Clubs Needed In North Canterbury

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29366, 19 November 1960, Page 5

Surf Clubs Needed In North Canterbury

YVITH the view to promoting ’’ interest in the possible formation of a surf life-saving club at one of the unpatrolled North Canterbury beaches, the Canterbury Surf Life-Saving Association has decided to send an invitation to the Rangiora Amateur Swimming Club to be official guests at one of the early local * surf carnivals. For many years, numerous drownings on the popular beaches in North Canterbury have been causing grave concern among life-saving officials and members of local bodies. The four beaches which the Canterbury Surf LifeSaving Association is mainly interested in are Spencer Park Beach, Pine’s Beach, Woodend Beach, and Waikuku Beach. *•- Interest The association hopes that the Rangiora Amateur Swimming Club, or at least some of its •’ members, ftill become interested : enough in the work of the Christchurch surf clubs to consider the 7"; formation of a similar club at - Waikuku, or another nearby beacmAt present, a full size reel and line is available for use at

Waikuku Beach, and could possibly be taken over by an enthusiastic group of swimmers wishing to form a club.

A big step towards preventing loss of life through drowning on these unpatrolled beaches has already been taken by the association. Portable reels and lines, valued at about £l3 each, have been placed in steel drums at Pine’s Beach. Spencer Park, and Woodend. These will no doubt serve their purpose admirably, but the formation of a small club at even one of the beaches would be better.

The Canterbury Surf Life-Sav-ing Association can be complimented on its efforts to preserve life on the beaches in North Canterbury. The association has shown its willingness to help any interested group of persons, and it is now in the hands of local swimmers to take the opportunities which are offering. Some years ago, attempts were made to form clubs on the North Canterbury beaches, but these were unsuccessful. With the increased populations of the country districts, however, the chances of success are now considerably greater.