LIFE-SAVING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2954, 14 December 1916, Page 6

LIFE-SAVING

' ■ Sir,—May I, on behalf of the Royal Life- Saving Society of New Zealand, beg a few lines of jour valuable space for further publicity of the brave action of Hector O. Clouston and James Bronte, who were successful in saving the lives of two persons at Day's Bay on Sunday last? My society wishes to take this opportunity, even at the risk of being-disrespectful, of indicating to the general public the great value of

the knowledge of swimming and life saving.

Sunday's unfortunate accident is one) which might occur at any time wherever holiday crowds are gathered, and if the crowd lacks in its numbers qualified' swimmers and life-savers such as Cloustou and Bronte arc, the chances of the drowning person are obviously ienioto indeed. The incident proves conclusively the value of our methods. Those- boys (they arc but young lads), : confident of their ability to save life, did not hesiate a moment in the performance of their task. Bronte w&s clutched by one of the ladies, but, as he said in evidence at the inquest, he freed himself "in a way he had learn-, <;d in practising life-saving." Surely, the public sec of what infinite value this, knowledge is. And its acquirement is within the reach of every man, woman, and child of the Dominion, of the Empire in fact. There is no charge for* instruction, and the fee for examination; is merely nominal. The society's honorary instructors endeavour to respond to every request for instruction,especially among schools and colleges, wherein the society recognises its great--est field.

Let the parents and those responsible for the education of our children, all of whom have a grave duty to the State, unite with us in our endeavours to secure the compulsory teaching of swimming and life-saving in the publio schools. Both financial and morai aid is necessary, the former especially, fot the war has been no less hard upon our. society than upon other similar organ* isations in New Zealand; only wlrilo others have practically ceased to operate ours is kept going after a, fashion by the energy and financial support of our fast diminishing hand; of workers. Will the public respond, do youi think? I sincerely hope so. —I etc., G. S. HILL. Chairman, Wellington Head Centre, Royal Life Saving Society, P.O. Box 192.