SWIMMING SEASON

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 51, 24 November 1930, Page 17

SWIMMING SEASON

Worser Bay Club Opens

GOVERNMENT CRITICISED

The official, opening of the Worser Bay Amateur Swimming and Life Saving Club took' place on Saturday afternoon, when, despite the cheerless weather, there was a fair attendance of members and their friends, and visitors from kindred clubs. Mr. K. Semple, M.P., was to have declared the season officially open, but owing to bis late arrival through trouble with his car, this was done by the club president, Mr. W. H. Gerrie. Mr. Gerrie, in wishing the club every success, appealed to young swimmers in the district to become members. He referred to the disadvantage of having no municipal tepid baths, and expressed the hope that the City Council would proceed with the undertaking, which had been approved by the ratepayers. The withdrawal by the Government of the annual grant to swimming was deplored by tbe speaker, who said he hoped members ot Parliament who had the interests of the sport at. heart, would do their best to get the grunt restored. .. Mr. P. Coira, chairman of the wellington Swimming Centre, said lie knew the difficulties under which the club had worked during the past year or two Its membership was not what it might be, and he appealed to the young men to join up and assist tbe club, which was oue of the oldest in Wellington. Mr. N. A. Ingram, on behalf of tne Royal Life Saving Society, congratulated the club on its work in the past. _lt was up to the residents of the district, he said, to give every support. He mentioned that steps were being taken to form a club at Titahi Bay, and expressed the hope that kindred clubs would assist. Mr. Semple, who arrived when theceremony had almost concluded, apologised for his lateness, stating that he had attended the funeral of a friend, and had experienced trouble with his car on the way back. After congratulating the club, he said that not sufficient encouragement was given to swimming cither by the Government or the civic authorities. Wellington had one of the finest marine drives in the world, and any money spent on its lieautification was money well spent. He had done his best to persuade the City Council to spend more money oil the foreshore. He was ashamed, in fact disgusted, that the Government bad discontinued its miserable grunt to the Royal Life Saving Society. He would five it no peace until it restored the grant. Hie sr-'-'ker said that tepid baths were an absolute necessity, and he urged the clubs to keep “hammering away” until the council did something in the matter. He would continue to do his best. . . A combined run-out was given by Worser Bay. Island Bay, and Lyall Bay teams. A 50-yards swimming race for Av orse r Bay Club members only was won by AA 11kins (4sec.). with Newport (Isec.). and Henburne (scr.), second and third respecwere entertainer! at afternoon tea. -