SCHOOL SWIMMING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 57, 8 March 1932, Page 3

SCHOOL SWIMMING

CARNIVAL TO-MORROW

From recreational and utilitarian points of view, the sport of swimming is one of the most valuable that can be indulged in by the youth of the country. That everyone in such a country as New Zealand shouldbe able to swim is a fact generally recognised, and for many years past the school teachers of the country have shown a very practical realisation of their duties in this respect. For instance, in. Wellington alone, according to official figures, over 1000 children were taught to swim last year.

For many years past it has been the custom to hold a primary schools' swimming carnival annually; Lack of .funds prevented the carnival being held last year, but to-morrow the Wellington .Public Schools Amateur Swimming Association intends to carry .on with the good work. It will be a big day for the primary school children of Wellington, -for/the programme comprises forty-seven events; Twenty schools in. Wellington City ■ will b<? represented by a total of two hundred and seventy competitors. The Wellington Swimming Centre has presented two gold medals, for the champion boy and champion girl, and in addition those children who qualify in the races will be entitled to receive standard time certificates for various distances.- The carnival is to be held at the Te Aro Baths, and the first event is timed to start at 1 45 p.m.

The annual swimming sports of the Wellington District Presbyterian Bible Classes were held in the Tepid Baths, Tasman street, on Friday. There was, an attendance of about 175, and good, fast swimming was witnessed. The St. Stephen's Class, Lower Hutt, won the cup for the relay race and the cup for the highest aggregate of points. The runnersup were St. John's Wellington.