LIFE-SAVING

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 87, 9 October 1935, Page 19

LIFE-SAVING

WORK OF SOCIETY

A FAVOURABLE YEAR

The favourable nature of the annual report and balance-sheet was commented on by speakers at .last night's annual meeting. of the "Wellington Head Centre of the Eoyal Life-saving Society. Mr. N. A. Ingram presided.

In moving the adoption of the annual report Mr. Ingram said that the year had been a vecy difficult one. The prevailing depression made it difficult for many parents to find the money for their children to qualify for the awards. The finances of the society would not permit the! fees for the awards to be lowered. Nevertheless, the awards this year numbered 977 as against 561 last season. The increase was in a, way indicative of the increased prosperity of the district* The visits of Mr. H. H. Lock, chairman of the London executive, and of Mr. F. G. Fishenden, a past vice-president of the society, had marked the year as a tasmorahle one. Mr.: Lock's visit had been undertaken to investigate the £U> ness of the Dominion organisation .for self-government. In the past the various centres had been controlled,by/the London executive. Five months after Mr. Lock's visit the head centre at Christchurch was invested with full power of control in New Zealand. The only branch of the society's' activities which the London executive still controlled was the diploma, and this control was retained- to' preserve unity throughout the Empire. :. .■ < HONOURS TO NEW ZEAL ANDERS. Three New Zealanders had been honoured by the Royal Life-saving Society —Mr. G. S. Hill, for over twenty years chairman of the Wellington -Head Centre,, had been made a life governor of the- society;,-Miss M. Dakin, of Marsden School, and Miss N. Fleming, of Solwayv College, Masterton, honorary associates.: The badges and diplomas accompanying these honours were pre-

sented to Mr. Hill and Miss Dakin, and those granted to Miss Fleming will be presented to her at Masterton on October 21 by the president, .who, with members of the executive,- will-visit Wairarapa for the purpose. ■In making the presentation to Mr. Hill,. Mr. Ingrara.referreaFto'the' long service rendered by Mr. Hill,-who had been chairman of the centre from its inception until he retired' about: two years ago. "He filled \the ; office with great credit to himself. Mid has earned this high honour," said Mr,. Ingram, "and he is the first and''only life governor in the Domjhibii."' - • In reply, Mr. Hill expressed-his pride and pleasure at having been given such a distinction. He recalled events conheeled with the foundation of :the centre and the difficulties which had: been encountered during his period'Of office. 1n.1916 the London executive.had conferred on him its distinguished service medal; . .".' .. • -."■:•:,■-■ .-.-;• v '~. ~ Addressing Miss^ Dakin, Mr. Ingram' congratulated- her. "This distinction is not given lightly'by the executive, and you have justly earned it," he.'said. - A vote of thanks was accorded" to Mrs. J. L.. Dighton for her hospitality to the executive. Officers were elected as follows:— President, Mr. N. A. Ingram; ; vicepresidents, Miss. V. 'Mi. Greig,Miss A. iM; Batham, Miss L. Wilson, -Miss-' Fitzjgerald, Miss May-hew, Messrs. T. C. iA. Hislop, R. S: Semple, E. S; Williams, G. S. Hill; V. Allen,- W. ft Gerrie, T. ' Queree, R. G. Ridling; H. R. Fisher, W. ;A. Armour, J. N: "Millard, J. R. Sut;cliffe, O. J. Howarth; F. M. Renner, the president, Wellington Rotary Club, the rector, St. Patrickls College; $ilverstream, the rector, St. Patrick's College, Wellington, the principals Petone Technical College, Maristßrotiiers'. School, Thorndon, Marist Brothers' School; Newtown;' chairman of the executive committee, Mr. J. D. Hunter; secre-tary-treasurer, Mr. J. L. Dighton; chief instructor, Mr. M. Neal; assistant chief instructors, Messrs. T. G. Hislop and T. B. Nelsoi*, Miss I. Staples and Miss N. Webber; trustees, Messrs. N. A. Hngram, J. D. Hunter, J. A. Duffy; auditor, Mr. H. G. B. Walker; executive committee, Messrs.'J. M. Arthur, G. Perry, E. S. Williams, E. Emerson, Misses M. Dakin and I. Staples; examiners,

Messrs. V. Allen, J. M. Arthur, J. A. Duffy, W. J. Beveridge, J. F. Alexander, H. Dickson, J. L. Dighton, W Griffin, W. S. Harris, J. D. Hunter, E; B. Hughes, J. W. Newport, M. Neal, ■E. S. Williams; examiners, Masterton, : Misses N.-Fleming, M. L. Pither, E. ■Donald; examiners, Lower Hutt, Miss iJ. Penwick, Mr. B. S. Knox; examiner, Featherston, Miss P; Edwards; ex-"^ ':aminer, Blenheim, Mr. R. Bythell; dele-igateto-New Zealand council, R.L.S^S., !.Mr. Baxter O'Neill; district representatives'/ Hutt Valley, Mr. B. S. Knox; Grey town, Mrs. J. Pickard; Otaki, Mr. H...Witchell; Paekakariki, Mr. A. J. Stewart; Blenheim, Mr. R. Bythell; Masterton, Miss N. Fleming.