LIFE-SAVING CLUB.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 22, 26 July 1910, Page 3

LIFE-SAVING CLUB.

THE MOVEMENT STARTED. The que&tion of the formation of a 'ife-paving club in Wellington has exercised the minds of local swimmers for sony; time past. A short time back the Wellington Swimming Centre passed a .motion in favour of such a club, but nothing so far has come of that proposal ; therefore the Wellington Swimming Club, recognising tho good that a life-saving Dody might bo to the community, called a meeting at the V.M.C.A. rooms last evening to gi/e •he matter full consideration. Mr. W. G. Morpeth, who presided, spoke of what he termed the "half-heart-ed way in which the centre had taken the matter up," and mentioned that the Wellington Club' was the first to seriously consider the question. The necessity of a club at Lyall Bay was a matter that he had no definite opinion upon. He thought the beach there was not dangerous. At times, after a southerly blow, there was a slight curi-ent .tt one point; but it was only the inc-xperi-oneod swimmer that would be likely u> get into danger. It was for such ,parsoiis that the club must cater. He ir.en mentioned a little friction which had arisen with the centre. "Tho centre," he said, "appears to think that we have slighted it — taken the ground from under its feet. But 1 can assume tha meeting that this is not so. If the Amiro will form a club we will do all in our power to help along the movement." The moating, he continued, couM form a branch cf nny association which might be formed later on, but that branch, it must bo understood, would be open to any member of an affiliated swimming cii\b. My. Somniorville said he was surprised to iind that lif^-saving was so neglected iv Wellington; in fact, in Now Zealand generally. My. M'Lean wanted to know what the initial cxpe'is« would be. In reply, it was .••tati.'cl Uv»l it was proposed to purchase a single apparatus, consisting ot a. reel, liie-linc, and belt, costing about £5 or £6. In answer to another question, Mr. Morpeth said that club feeling must be eliminated from the movement uJtogcther. After considerable discussion the following motion, moved by Mr. B. O'Niell and seconded by Mr". Soinmerville, was carried : — "That this meeting of the Wellington Swimming Club form a life-saving branch of the club, as prov.ded tor in the constitution ; the imposition oi condition., to be left te the committee of the club and membership to be open to members of all affiliated clubs."