Surf Life Saving Delegates Discuss Holding N.Z. Title

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29830, 24 May 1962, Page 20

Surf Life Saving Delegates Discuss Holding N.Z. Title

Delegates to last evening’s meeting of the Canterbury Surf Life-Saving Association were almost unanimous in their desire that Canterbury should hold the national surf championship meeting in 1964. Later discussion, however. disclosed that the same delegates were reluctant to offer, on behalf of their clubs, a beach to be the venue of the meeting. The South Brighton and Sumner clubs pressed the meeting to send forward a recommendation to the forthcoming general meeting of the national body, and this was carried with one dissenting vote. It was pointed out that the meeting had not been held in Canterbury for seven years.

Mr S. Mason drew delegates’ attention to the necessity for nominating the beach on which Canterbury intended to conduct the meeting.

“We mighit get them, so you had better make up your mind who is going to do the work. We must indicate to the New Zealand association, which beach will be holding them.” said Mr Mason. The chairman, Mr S. D. Tarrant, said that a beach and an alternative beach had to be stated when the application was made. “Is there any club prepared to take the national championships?” said Mr Tarrant. Mr L J. Tointon (Sumner) said that, if the Sumner beach was considered suitable, his club would offer. Delegates in their discussion seemed to agree that the Sumner beach would not be suitable.

It was ..pointed out by several speakers that the South Brighton and New Brighton beaches were the only ones which combined accessibility with the necessary facilities and water conditions.

Mr J. A. Lee (South Brighton) said that his club would undertake the task if no other club would, but Mr Tarrant said that this would not be sufficient basis for an application to hold the meeting. Mr Tarrant closed the discussion by telling delegates that the association would not send forward the application to the national body until a club had offered to undertake to act as host. He said that it was expected that all six clubs would hold meetings before the next association meeting, and that a decision would be made then.

The association will make the following nominations for positions on the national body: President, Mir Mason; chief instructor, Mr Tarrant; delegate to New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, Mr G. Pratley; delegate to Royal Life-Saving Society, Mr J. Sutherland. Mr Tarrant will be Canterbury's delegate to the annual meeting of the New Zealand body.