SWIMMING

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 6, 8 January 1916, Page 12

SWIMMING

SOME LIFE-SAVING NOTES,

TEACHING THE YOUNG.

(By "Header.")

Just as the holiday period affects everything else, so it is with life-saving, especially among the schools and col-leges,-where instruction will not be renewed until after the end of January. On© or two adult classes continue their ■work, and are due to come up for examination shortly.

The last class to undergo examination before tho holidays was in charge of Mr. Clifton D. Lewis. Following is a list of successful candidates:-—Profici-ency Certificates and Bronze '.Medallions : Gilbert F. Hill, William' N. Fuller, Arthur Knowles, Stanley G. 'Prince. Hon. Instructor's Certificate1: Clifton D. Lewi*.

In connection with this class, the society has reason to be grateful to Commander Lawson, of the Kelburn Scouts, who was instrumental in its formation and conduct. For some years past Mr. Lawson has worked strenuously in the society's interests, and has always shown his results in awards.

"information is to hand that the swimming authorities have unSer. consideration a proposal to approach the Education Board to have a day or half-day set aside for the ?Sity schools early in February next, so that a, public schools swimming and life-saving championship might be held at IV Aro Baths. The idea is an excellent one, and it is hoped that the swimmers will be able to give the Education authorities good and sufficient reasons for justifying the concessions. The need at the present time to foster the art of' natation in all its branches among the young folk is keenly felt by those who are intimately acquainted with ' the swimming world. Very^ few of the older1 swimmers are left, and it is to the younger generation that the clubs must look for their members.

Perhaps it is meet here to point to the urgency of carrying out the local Centre's determination with regard 'to the teaching of swimming. The time has come when the "laissez faire" attitude must be abandoned, and a scheme evolved by which all clubs will pay almost undivided attention to the teaching of swimming and life-saving. It has already been pointed out in these columns that club members, and even the Centres, have not 'given this matter the thought and effort that are necessary for the successful upkeep of a strong body of gwimmers, and those appeals should strike home with additional force now. The ability to swim is what might be termed a nonaltmistic pleasure, but lie who willingly devotes a certain amount of his time without compensation to the teaching of the beginner in the art contradicts the term, and earns the good-will of every hard-thinking citizen. There are opportunities galore for those well disposed towards the work, and they need not go beyond the municipal baths to find those opportunities. And the great satisfaction of, having accomplished the task undertaken, and of being able to count the heads of successful pupils, is worth ,all the effort. . Those who extend 'the effort will not find the youngsters ungrateful. A point which comes to'mind at this moment ib one which has often been traversed—the complaint of the family man who desires to teach his wife and children to swim, but who must inconveniently do so only in. the open water of the bays around the coast. vln other places the system of family bathing at municipal baths during certain hours is in existence, and seems to work well. Perhaps the swimming or life-saving centre will take the matter up', and ask the City Council to give it serious consideration. It seems worth while.

The opening of the season at Paekakariki on Boxing Day was a pronounced success. About 40 visitors from the city wero the guests of the local Surf Life-Saving_ Club, and assisted in getting off a most interesting programme. It is noteworthy that all these clubs have strictly followed the advice of the Royal Life-Saving Society to confine their swimming events to back and breast strokes for persons ineligible for military service. Tho plan is a good one. SURFING AT LYALL BAY. During tho holidays a great number of soldiers- took advantage of the hospitality of the various surf clubs, and enjoyed a dip in tho briny at Lyall Bay and elsewhere. The heat of the city no doubt made the prospect of a romp in the surf most alluring. It may not be generally known that the use of surf boards at Lyall Bay is now prohibited except m that part east of Onepu-road, and that surf boards must not be longer than sft or wider than 18in. It is difficult to reconcile this regulation with the principle expounded in the past by the City Coun. cil; that bathing should be confined to the western and of the beach, in order to place bathers under the better control of the life-saving clubs. The question of .regulating the use of .surf boards is one which should have more serious consideration by the council than it has apparently received, and the advice of I the clube upon the beach should be preferred. The pastime has become so popular now with both bathers and spectators that any ill-advised regulation •will go a long way towards marring tho popularity of the resort. In the face of the regulation, it is difficult to understand why the practice of hiring surf boards is allowed. Is the City Council aware of this?

The secretary of the Royal Life Saving Society, by permission of the Maranui Surf Club, was able to loan, a surf reel to tho newly-formed swimming and life-saving club at Trentham for use during bathing parades. According to reports, it will be often in requisition It was good to see several of. the Lyall Bay^Surf Club's soldier members in evidence at the clubrooms during the holidays. On Sunday last they had a try out with the reel and line, and showed that they had lost none of their old dash. •