EXTRA EDITION.

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 48, 24 February 1917, Page 6

EXTRA EDITION.

SWIMMING MATTERS

CONFERENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

DELEGATES

ENCOURAGING THE YOUNG.

IMPORTANT SUBJECTS DIS-

CUSSED,

A conference of delegates called by the Council of the New Zealand Swimming Association to consider several important matters in connection with swimming was ' held in the V.M.C.A. rooms to-day. Mr. F. Bowler (of Christchurdh), president of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, presided, and the following delegates were present : Messrs. P. N. Bundle (ChrLstehurch), hon. secretary of the New Zealand Association, B. O'Neill, and J. H. Knudsen (Council of New Zealand Association), W. B. Jerrom (Auckland), H. W. Cooper (Wanganui), H. Simmonds (Hawkes Bay), H. C. W. Blick (Wellington), H. Bowman (Westland), L., A. G. Rich (Otago), A. M. Farnall (South Canterbury). The jirincipal object of the conference was to yjonsider the proposal to institute the compulsory teaching of swimming and life-saving in the public schools of the Dominion. .

In welcoming delegates, Mr. Bowler referred to the desirability of meeting once a year, and expressed the hope that much good would result. Swimming had received a good setback owing to the war, and senior swimming, from a comreceived a gfeat setback owing to the at a standstill. It was the duty, therefore, of all those who had the interests of swimming at heart to foster the art among the children. If this was done in the proper way he did not see any reason why swimming should not attain to a higher level-than ev«r before. The speaker laid stress on the excellent work that was being done by various centres in New Zealand, and in this connection he specially mentioned the efforts of the Otago'Centre. No doubt other centres were following up in a simitar manner. He urged the different centres to seriously consider the question of fostering swimming amongst the young, and remarked that the council would be prepared to do its share in carrying out the work.

The chairman's remarks were received with applause, and a general discussion, on tho question of compulsory swimming in the schools followed. Tlie opinion, of delegates was , unanimous that swimming should be introduced, irtto .the school curriculum. In this connection Mr. Rundle mentioned that a deputation which -waited on the Director of Educa.I tk>n (Dr. Anderson) had received a sympathetic reply. Thus tho first nail bad been driven, but ithey yet had a longway to go. Other delegates .strongly advocated the provision, of swimming baths as part of public schools. { SCHOOL 'CHAMPIONSHIPS. The following remit was submitted by Mr. Jerrom :—" That a secondary schools championship be held next season, in addition to a primary schools championship. Mr. Cooper moved tbaft it be a recommendation to the council that championship events be provided for junior and senior' school boys; This was. adopted with the following reservations:—Senior boys to include boys who have left school, but who have not exceeded the age of seventeen yearsJ distances to be as follow:—Junior boys, 100 ( yards and 4M yards; senior boys, 100 yards/: 220 yards, ajid 880 yards. Junior girls, 50 yards and 100 yards; senior girls, 75 yards and 150 yards. QUESTION OF CERTIFICATES. * 'Mr. Cooper, moved; "That the -physical branch of the Education Department be urged to issue certificates to pupils who have learnt to swim and to those who swim distances, the certificates to be distributed on application to schools in which swimming ia taught." The consensus of opinion was that the matter of efficiency certificates should be left. exclusively in the hands of the New Zealand Association.

On the motion of Mr. O'Neill, it was decided to recomend' centres to urge clubs to admit scliool children to membership and to cater as far as possible for the juniors. Mr. Cooper moved, and it was resolved, that it be a recommendation that standard times be compiled for provincial school championships, which are held annually, and also for the Dominion schools championships.