Extension Of Surf Patrols Suggested

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30578, 22 October 1964, Page 12

Extension Of Surf Patrols Suggested

Consideration should be given to extending club patrols into areas between the present clubs, the retiring secretary of the Canterbury Surf LifeSaving Association (Mr M. B. Restall) told delegates at the forty-eighth annual meeting of the association

Mr Restall said present clubs in the province were overcrowded and new clubs should be established in areas not patrolled. Great areas of beach in Canterbury were still unpatrolled and it would be a sound scheme for a club as Waimairi to have a four-wheel drive vehicle so that it could obtain access to the beach north of its club house quickly in an emergency. A surf club in Auckland had found such a vehicle very successful. “Perhaps some wealthy body would consider a donation,” Mr Restall said. No Drownings For the forty-eighth year in succession, there had been no drownings on patrolled beaches In Canterbury, the annual report prepared by Mr Kestall and the retiring president (Mr S. D. Tarrant) stated. Seventeen rescues had been recorded last season compared with 51 the previous year. Three of the rescues were recorded by the association's youngest club, Kotuku (West Coast). “It Is difficult to say whether the reduced rescues this season were due to the weather or an increased wariness on the part of the public to bathe between the flags,” the report said. The beach and patrol flags will be changed from the familiar red and yellow chequered flag to a red and yellow horizontally-halved flag

for the coming season in line with Australian practice and to avoid confusion with the danger flag to be introduced, which is a red and white chequered flag, it was reported. A total of 91 surf awards had been gained last season, compared with 99 in 1962-63. Fortythree R.L.S.S. bronzes had been gained and six - instructor's awards. Congratulations were extended by Mr Tarrant to Messrs I. Graham and R. McDowell of Waimairi on their being the first in the surfing movement to receive the George Medal. Messrs D. V. Wilson (North Beach) and C. A. Cooper (New Brighton) were elected life members. Messrs A. B. Bacon and F. L. Mitchell were presented Canterbury service blazer awards. Officers elected were:— Patron, Mr G. D. Griffiths; president, Mr G. G. Pratley; vice-presidents, Messrs B. B. Blackmore. M. B. Restall, A. N. Staples; secretary, Mr B. C. J. Turpin; treasurer, Mr W. Manhire; chief instructor, Mr J. A. Lee; chief examiner, Mr S. D. Tarrant; gear inspector. Mr I. Davidson; registrar, Mr N. McDonald; auditor, Mr D. G. Frost: solicitors, Messrs A. I. Cottrell and G. S. Brockett; delegate to Pioneer Sports Club, Mr D. M. Richardson; delegate to New Zealand association, Mr B. Readman: publicity officers. Messrs R. O. Dew and G. B. Wilson.