DANGERS TO DIVERS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29973, 7 November 1962, Page 19

DANGERS TO DIVERS

‘Pressure’ On Canadians

A plea for the "pressure" to be reduced from the Canadian divers who are to compete in New Zealand in early December was made by Mr W. S. Hodge at a meeting of the council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association last night. Mr Hodge said the divers—who would be coming straight from the Empire Games—should not be asked to compete in pools they considered to be too shallow. He reminded the council of the injury received by the United States champion Miss B. E. McAllister. at Dunedin last season, and said a repetition of this was not wanted.

Mr L. Donaldson, said the 1948 Olympic champion, Dr. S. Lee. had dived in 7ft 6in of water in Christchurch. If this was good enough for him it should be good enough for all others, he said.

Mr Hodge: He did not dive on the West Coast. The chairman of the council (Mr A. J. Donaldson) said the divers knew how to break their dives, and, in any case, would not be in competition. If necessary, a decision would be made on the spot on the suitability of the Greymouth pool for diving

On the suggestion of the secretary (Miss D. Brown) it was decided to ask the swimming section manager of the New Zealand Empire Games team (Mr R. S. Shakespeare) to consult the Canadians on the subject at Perth.