Larger grant urged

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33034, 29 September 1972, Page 10

Larger grant urged

If a more realistic sum were provided by the Government in the annual water safety grant, a much more effective water-safety campaign could be conducted, says the report of the Royal Life-saving Society. New Zealand, to be presented at the annual meeting in Christchurch next month. The annual grant was 555,000 and this was divided between

the society, the New Zealand Surf Life-saving Association, the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, and the Water Safety Committee. The report says that it was remarkable how much work was done with the money when it could be regarded as the salary for 10 persons. "Fortunately for New Zealanders their safety—water-wise —is squarely on the shoulders of .honorary enthusiasts in the organisations concerned,” the report Bays.

The accidental drowning rate last year was 37 per million, but it would have been much higher without the vigilance of the voluntary associations concerned, it saj s. “Is it a reflection on the Government that its Involvement is officially confined to secretarial services supplied by the n Department of Internal Affairs?’* “ asks the report.

Policy? The report said: “Sympathetic support was given to water-safety by the Health (physical education section) and Tourist and Publicity Departments. But is this official Government policy?” If more money were made available to enable the organisations to put into action the plans they advocate annually, it was easy to imagine how much more effective the campaign would be. The society said that it was not ungrateful for the money it

received—s72so last year—but it felt a sense of frustration knowing what should and could be done with a modest increase in the grant or some Government participation in the provision of finance, in addition to the money from lottery funds. The report's summary of accidental arownings—there were 106 last year—said that there was a constant need for responsible

supervision of children under 10. Last year there were 30 children 10 years or under who drowned in New Zealand.

Also last year there were 30 lives lost in boating accidents and the report expressed concern that In a number of cases lack of experience was probably responsible for the drowning.

Use of facilities provided by clubs such as boat training and the observance of safety rules would help in reducing lives lost in boating accidents, the report said.