LIFE-SAVING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 141, 11 December 1914, Page 2

LIFE-SAVING

WORK IN COUNTRY DISTRICTS. Very few people, even those who are members of the 1 , society, realise the amount of work that is going forward in the ' Wellington country districts. At suitable inland towns hon. district representatives were appointed some two years ago, and their strenuous efforts in the cause of life-saving have led to the firm establishment of the art in the spheres of their influence. At Carterton Mr. F. E. Tyler, assisted by Mr. E. M. Bish, was responsible last year for a great number of awards. Things are not done by halves there, and those members who, in the previous year, had gained the bronze medallion were encouraged to undertake the difficult examination for the award o,f merit, the outstanding feature of which is a swim, fully clothed, a distance of 600yd8, by three different strokes. The success which attended these efforts was very creditable, no less than seven candidates being awarded the coveted silver medallion. At Paekakariki Mr. W. J. Wray is the leading spirit. His district extends as far north as Levin. The Railway Surf ' and Lif e-saving ' Club, a most up-'to-date body, formed as the result of a sad drowning _ fatality afc Paekakariki, is his special foster-child, so to speak, and the work he has induced there is a splendid example of what can be done where any body of men can be ehcour* aged to band together in a good cause. Mr. Wray is now actively engaged in encouraging the authorities at Levin to interest themselves in the work, and from his reports there seems every possibility that good results will accrue. At Palmerston North Mr O Bowen centres his activities specially on that town, Feilding, and Foxton, and it is fully expected that this year his endeavours will be crowned with deserved success. Mr. Parsonson, secretary of the V.M.C.A. at Masterton, has just recently expressed his willingness to act as the society's representative there. It is very certaih that he will establish the object well, for he is interested and ! consistent. Great things are looked for from that source. < A representative is desired for the Hutt Valley, from Petone to the Upper Hutt. It is hoped that a suit' able gentleman will be available from the Petone Life-saving Club, and negotiations are about to be commenced. With such an appointment realised, the centre's chain of activity will be completed in the country, and, accordingly, greater results may be anticipated. IN OTHER CENTRES. The annual reports of the Wanganui and Hawkes Bay centres, just to hand, show that the work has lost none of its vim in those districts. It is particularly pleasing to note how steadily the work is progressing among the schools, and what encouragement is being thrown out by the centres to obtain the co-operation of both teachers and, pupils. The head office at London is very proud of its colonial head centres, and strikes a sad note in only one case, that of Auckland. "The head centre there seems to' have languished," writes the chief secretary, "and I am at a loss to understand it, considering the unusually good facilities in warmth of water and climatic conditions there are." Latest reports, however, indicate that Auckland is .rousing itself into activity and that the head office will soon have nothing to complain of. MISCELLANEOUS. There is a unique bond of sympathy between head centres all over the world, and correspondence and annual reports are regularly and freely exchanged. With the advent of the Swimming Magazine this bond will be substantially strengthened, there is no doubt. ' Reports from British Columbia and South Africa just to hand indicate the same progress as has been tho case in New Zealand, with the exception that the schools do not get the attention necessary to maintain active interest in the future. No doubt this feature^ of the work will receive its due measure of consideration as those centres become more firmly esablished. Disappointment is felt at the lack of support given the class on Tuesday evenings at the V.M.C.A. Much trouble has been experienced in organising this class, and it was only through the goodness of the V.M.C.A. authorities that it was made possible to hold a central class of this ldnd. It is hoped, however, that better support will be given to the officers in this direction The official opening of the season .at Paekakariki took place last weekend, and a great number of Wellington lifesavers attended. The function is always a feature of the life-saving year, and becomes more popular on each occasion. The warmth of the water and the geniality of the reception are the magnets that draw life-sa.vel-8 from all parts of the province. The practice of paying official and unofficial visits from club to club ie a good means of gettihg that feeling of good-fellowship aroused, which means co-operation in work and thought.