LIFE-SAVING CARNIVAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2852, 17 August 1916, Page 6

LIFE-SAVING CARNIVAL

AT INSTITUTE BATHS

SHOULD SWIMMING BE COMPULSORY?

A MINISTER'S PRAISE

There was a very large attendance of tho public at tlio Boys' Instituto tepid baths last evening, when a carnival Inaugurated by the New Zealand branch of tho lioyal Life-saviug Society took place. All the galleries were crowded, and even the footways of the side galleries were fringed with keenly-interested lads. The big pool'of clear water, lazily steaming, looked most inviting to all swimmers, and the various displays given in life-saving methods, were as eagerly enjoyed by those who took part as by those who looked on from the "bank."

The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), presided. After reading apologies from His Excellency the Governor, the Prime Minister, the Hons. G. \V\ Russell and J. G. }V. Aitken, he said how pleased he was with the splendid work that had been done by tho Boys' Institute in providing such a fine bath for recreation and pleasure, and the building up of our young men and girls. The Boys' Institute deserved the thanks of tho community in making it possible for young people to co-ordin-ate healthy bodies with sound minds, which would make for tho best citizen, ship in tho years to oome. In passing, Mr. Luko referred to men like Mr. Bonayne, who had stuck to swimming and life-6aving year in and year out. Many would remember a vear ago when " ill these baths tho Mayor of the City had been placed in a very peculiar position, and it ; had been owing to the splendid capacity of Mr. Shields that the City had been spared the expense of another election, (Laughter and applause.) Swimming and Health. Dr. Platts-Mills, a vice-president of the Life-saving Society, said that she recognised many familiar faces which sho had seen at tho City baths. This was her first introduction to the Institute's baths, and she had to congratulate tho LifeSaving Sooiety on the place it had secured for its carnival. If the public only knew of the conditions that prevailed at times when they had to put up with the worst weather at the baths, they would know that if they were not swamped they were often damped in their enthusiasm. Somehow or. other niost of the attention was given to teaching boys to-swim, tho boys- were placed first "always, and it seemed that they should bo ablo to swim Wf nature.- It was quite. different with tho girls. They took longer to learn to ?l r ' n i ", iaD " le k°J TS > n| id did not go to the baths so often. A few of them went very frequently, but it was only tho few, and very many never went near the baths. And there was no one to call the girls—no ono except Mr. Shields, and ho had been calling the people, calhne the educational authorises, and calling the boys and girls to learn to swim and save life. (Applause.) Swimming, Dr. Platts-Mills considered; was tho best of all sports and recreations for girls and women to fit them i-i j "fe- Women naturally led a less active life than men, and here was a recreation they could enjoy both winter and summer.

No High Heels or Tight Waists. 'Of all .the 'sports for girls swimming find tennis were the best, and swimming came first. Tennis did not allow high heels to be worn, but it did allow tight waists, but in swimming the body had to be absolutely free, every muscle was brought: into play, and every fibre of tho body thrilled with the action. She had seen little girls attending school taken out from ill-fitting seats'for physical exercise, about as uninteresting and sordid as the courtyard of a gaol, but to sea the same children on the beaches or at the baths, where they swam .and romped and splashed was to see them deep-breathing without anyone telling them how to do it. Sho hoped that girls and women would recognise the riches in_ health and beauty provided in swimming. Tho sea was a. big'natural Dlayground for all, and one that could not bo takon away from them. . Its factor as a health-promoter and rejuvenator could not be over-estimated. (Applause.) Compulsory Swimming. The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Minister of Education) said that he did not proposs to mako a speech, as boys and girls did not like speeches, and forthwith made the longest speech otftho evening. Ho referred to the splendid work that was being dono by the New Zealand branch of the Royal Life Saving Society in this country. He -would like to be permitted to say hero that a number of noiseless societies were doing splendid work; indeed, a great deal of tho best work dono in New Zealand was accomplished by noiseless societies, consisting of people of whom tho public knew little or nothing, such as .the men and women of the Lifo Saving Society, -who spent a great deal of their time in developing the aims and objects of that splencid institution. Dr. Platts-Mills, «is a doctor, had referred to the splendid results to be derived fvom swimming. It was', in his opinion, the most useful of all accomplishments. It not only enabled a swimmer to save his or her life, but it also enabled them to perform tlw magnificent duty of saving the lives of others. (Applause.) The society not only aimed at teaching the principles of swimming, but it inculcated in 1 tho voung people how they could save others, by teaching them the best methods of rescue and release. Very often, people (in endeavouring to save life) lost their owtt lives. Dr. Platts-Mills had advocated swimming from the health. point of view. One of its most potent advantages was that it hardened up the body, making possible the brilliant achievements of tho , New Zealanders— of the Anzacs at the front. (Applause:) If there ever was a time -when plirsical fitness counted it was to-day. It -was highly important that our vaco should not be allowed to deteriorate, physically and mentally (and Mr. Luke had hinted that a sound mind must have a sound body), so with their yonne people it was for them to see that they developed phy6icallr in every respect. He looked forward 'to the timo when swimming would be made compulsory where tho facilities existed. (Applause.) In a recent return he was surprised to find that during the ten-year period (from 1906 to 1915) there had been 1437 males and 245 females drowned in New Zealand, 16R2 in all. or nearly one death for. every two days. Once more he con. gratulated the society on tho excellent work it was doing. Results of Events. The events in the carnival resulted as follow:— Schoolboys( pairs) Rescue Race.—A. Watts and S. l'owoll, 1; IV. .Montgomery and A. M'Andrew, 2. Ladies' (pairs) Rescue Rac?. —If. Alleh and 1. Rigs, l» B. Donnelly and J. Aiken, 2. . Medley Handicap (KG yards).—M. C. Eton (Bsec.), Ij. ■ "\V. Montgomery (oscc.), Boys' Handicap (33 yards).—A. Card (!isec!), 1; E. Thornliill (3sec.), 2.' Ladies' Medley Handicap (66 yards).— M. Allen (her.), 1; E. Rigg (2scc.), 2. Secondary Schools' Breast Stroke Handicap' (ion yards).—\V. Montgomery (lsec.), 1; M. C. Eton (2«ec.), 2. Ladies' Diving Competition.—R. Elton, 1; E. Watson, 2.

Scouts' Undressing Relay Race (pairs). (GG yards).—A. Pctrio and S. Butler, 1; W. M'Gill ami F.. Palette, 2. Medley. Boys' Institute Handicap (33 yard?).—T. nowitt, t; C. Rusterliolz, 2. Open Handicap (66 yards). —D. Murrell (lsec), 1; P. Wilcox (Ssec.), 2. A most interesting event was the display of methods of release and rescue used In connection with life-saving, given by Masses of bnys and young men under the direction of the lion, instructor, Jlr. J. A. DulTv. Messrs. Pope (Wellington College) and Montgomery (Banks' College) gavo an exhibition of diving from the surface in search of the body of a drowning person, which, was very effective, and instructive tn swimmers. Messrs. T. Shields and Or.' E. Billson also rave a very clever exhibition of scientific swimming. During llic evening «• collection was laken up among those present, and as Hie rysult' the sum of J27 16s. lOd. was donated, which sum was handed over to the Boys' Institute by iho Life-saving Society as a donation to its funds.