FEDERATION MOVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 141, 16 June 1936, Page 16

FEDERATION MOVE

SWIMMING AND LIFE-SAVING

DISCUSSION BY CENTRE

A proposal put forward by the Maranui Surf and Life-saving Club that the three national bodies controlling swimming and life-saving should federate in order to present a stronger front was discussed at length at last night's meeting of the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. Tne secretary, Mr. N. N. Oldershaw, read a letter setting out the club's proposals. "Members of the executive committee have been discussing recently the lack of co-ordination between the three controlling bodies of swimming sport in New Zealand, yiz., the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, the Royal Life-saving Society, and the New Zealand Surf Life-saving Association," stated the letter. "We understand that this lack was brought home forcibly to members of a deputation when representing the Surf Association to the Government for financial assistance. The deputation represented only one of the three bodies interested in the same work and the ground covered would also be covered by deputations for the same purpose from the other bodies. The result is that the Government naturally does not heed the split appeal as much as they would an appeal from the three bodies represented by one deputation.

TOO LITTLE ASSISTANCE. «'lt must be' recognised that too little assistance is given by the Government and local bodies generally to swimming and life-saving, and every effort should be made to obtain a better hearing. The fact that has become most obvious to us is the present impossibility, owing to the; various institutions of the three bodies, of presenting a united front."

The proposals were that all three bodies should employ the same salaried secretary, who would act as a coordinating link. The secretary would have available a room for the exclusive use of the New Zealand controlling bodies and their affiliated bodies. The three bodies would have honorary affiliation one with the other, entitling them to one delegate on the other two bodies.

'.'Quite apart from Government assistance," said Mr. F. H. Jackson, a Maranui delegate, "it would be far better for the sport in general if the three bodies could get together."

PLANS BEING DRAFTED. Mr. P. F. Coira, who presided, explained that the New Zealand Surf Life-saving Association had received a similar letter through'the Wellington district association, and that its secretary, Mr. N. A. Ingram, was at present engaged in drafting proposals on the lines of the formation of a federation.

The point that the purpose of the central body would be to put forward well-considered proposals to the Government or to local bodies was emphasised by Mr. J. C. Blakeley. Mr. A. A. Jenkins suggested the possibility of a few representatives of each "body in Wellington meeting to discuss the matter.

A motion by Mr. J. C. Blakeley approving the principle of federation was carried unanimously, and Messrs. N. N. Oldershaw and D. S. N. McCartney were appointed to confer with other bodies on the matter.

Mr. F. M. Pinfold, the centre's educational officer, said that in his work among the schools he had often felt the lack of co-ordination between the swimming and life-saving interests.