Lifeguard subsidies up?

Press, 8 September 1982, Page 6

Lifeguard subsidies up?

Beach lifeguards may have a greater proportion of their pay from the Christchurch City Council this summer, but councillors want more local bodies to help finance the service.

The Canterbury Surf Lifesaving Association has asked for an additional grant to make up the shortfall caused by the dropping of the Government's Student Community Service programme, under which 10 lifeguards and a controller, had been employed since 1978.

At present, the service is supported financially by the City Council and the Waimairi’ and Rangiora district councils. Those local bodies have supported the service since it was expanded to cover area surf life-saving clubs in the 19505. Paid lifeguards have patrolled Canterbury beaches since 1937. The council’s parks and recreation committee said yesterday that the council should increase its grant this

year from $4830 to $10,416 and ask the Metropolitan Grants Committee if it would accept responsibility for paying lifeguards during the summer. Since the patrolled beaches extended from Taylors Mistake to Waikuku Beach, it was not unreasonable to expect some financial assistance from Kaiapoi Borough, Rangiora Borough, Paparua County, Riccarton Borough, Heathcote County, and Lyttelton Borough for the service. the councillors said.