COMBINED SWIMMING CARNIVAL

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 56, 8 March 1922, Page 3

COMBINED SWIMMING CARNIVAL

TO Til IBITOR,

„ Slr>~With reference to the statements in s the local columns of The Post of the 6th msfc., regarding the Swimmers Memorial Life-saving- Competition that was to bo held at the swimming 'carnival on Saturday last, whilst .admitting that it was regrottabl© that. such' an important competition should go by default, we think that if you had' referred to your own swimming contributor, 'Header," he would have probably given you the reason, viz., that of' the three teams entered, Lyall Bay, Maranui, and- Wellington, the two latter clubs competed in the flying squadron teams' race, and aleo .played the final game of the water poto banner on the same day. Both the olube had members in every • available raco on the day, and it was found absolutely necessary to scratch in the Swimmers' Memorial event. • - '

"Header" knows perfectly, well that up to tlio present, only two clubs in Wellington are • strong in life-saving,, and the public have' never been'led; ..to believe that interest in life-saving was strong amongst the "swimmers." This branch of swimming being the work-of the lifesaving clubs (of ■ ..which there are only four in Wellington), there was, in our opinion, no necessity for a cheap boost for one club at the expense of the others and life-saving generally. Had this club had to find 16 swimmers for team events besides competitors for the open' events, they would have been in the same position as the clubs that defaulted. Hoping that you will be able to publish these remarks to clear away any misapprehensions that may have been caused by a wrong interpretation of the paragraph. We are, etc., H. J. COOK, Hon Sec., Wellington A.S. CluV ; L. CHAPMAN, ,Hon. Sec, MaranuiS.'andL.S.CluK 7th Mwroh.