OTAGO SWIMMING CENTRE

Evening Star, Issue 20942, 5 November 1931, Page 15

OTAGO SWIMMING CENTRE

"LEAKN-TO-SWIM WEEK” ARRANGEMENTS FOR CLASSES Arrangements were finalised at last night’s meeting of the Otago Swimming Centro for “ Learn to Swim Week,’’ which commences on Monday next. Those present were the president (Mr J. L. MTndoe), Messrs W. H. Auckland, E. H. James, A. Grieg, A. Findlay, H. D. Gillies, G. Staples, W. A. Jenkins, B. Kerr, W. Williams, D. C. Bannatyne, E. G. James, D. Thomson, and E. C. Isaacs (secretary). Mr P. A. Mathieson, custodian of the Municipal Baths, who is in charge of the centre’s instructors for “ Learn to Swim Week,” and has done the organising work- in connection with the classes to he arranged, was present by invitation, and submitted a report on the proposed activities of the week. Ho said that the organisation of the classes was practically finalised. The instructors had come forward in considerable numbers, and classes had been held lor them. All that remained now was for the public to back up the centre and support the effort, it had been decided to divide the pool into sections, with instructors to each section. Beyond the shallow end (where the learners’ classes would be carried out) would bo a further area, where improvers could work from one side of the baths to the other. If there were sufficient pupils coming forward _ it would bo possible to have four sessions from 7 to 9 each night, during which time it should be possible to accommodate 200 pupils without taking into account those using the diving boards or those making use of the area for orchil ary swimmers. The shallow end would bo so roped that the non-swimmers would practically be in a division by themselves. The various sections would be lettered, Mr Mathieson proceeded, and the instructors would be numbered. A chart would be on view to enable everybody to see which section they should go to. Pupils would enter the same section at the same time each night unless they improved and were shifted to an advanced section. Once the classes wore commenced on Monday evening the instructors would be responsible for their own little section ol pupils, each class comprising four or six. At the end of each half-hour session classes would bo changed by whistle. Around the pool would be letters designating the various sections, and the instructors would wear numbers. It was also intended to hold throe half-hourly classes in the lunch hour. The Chairman expressed the thanks of members to Mr Mathieson for the trouble he had gone to, and said that the plan of campaign had been well arranged. Various suggestions were discussed in connection with the opening night of the week, and members of the centre promised their co-operation and support in the launching of the classes by Mr Mathieson and the club’s instructors. The report was adopted. ■ WATER POLO COMPETITION. The Secretary reported that St. Clair, Kiwi, and Dunedin had each entered two teams for the water polo competition for the Donald Stuart Banner, ami he recomrnendqd that the first round oi matches he played as follows;—St. Clair A v. Kiwi (St. Clair Chib night, November 1G), Kiwi A v. Dunedin B (Kiwi Club night, November 19), St. Clair B v. Dunedin A (Dunedin Club night, November 21). Ho recommended that the second round matches be: St. Clair A v. Dunedin B, Kiwi B v. St, Clair B, and Dunedin A v. Kiwi A. The dates for this round could be fixed later, and the centre might allocate one of tho matches to the Dunedin Club’s carnival on December 3. Tho report was adopted, and it w T as decided that the Kiwi A-Duncdin A match he allotted to the Dunedin Club’s carnival. OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS. For the Otago championships on December 15 tho executive recommended that the following programme bo approved 100yds and 220yds men’s championships, men’s diving championship, 33 l-3yds interclub dash _ handicap, ladies’ diving championship, life saving championship (first and fourth methods), 133, l-3yds four-a-sido relay championship, intermediate hoys’ diving championship, 100yds ladies’ championship, intermediate hoys’ 100yds championship, intermediate girls’ 100yds championship; 150yds men’s breaststroke.championship, intermediate boys’ breast-stroke championship, intermediate boys' 220yds. championship, 50yds 'junior boys’ championship, 100yds junior girls’ championship, 50yds junior girls’ championship, 50yds _ junior girls’ breast-stroke championship, and six-a-side primary schools’ mixed relay championship (three boys and three girls). The programme was approved, and it was resolved that the remaining championship events he swum at chib hours or at club carnivals.

SWIMMING COUNCIL’S LEVY. Tho secretary of the Canterbury Centro wrote soliciting Otago’s support to a notice of motion at tho annual meeting that tho levy of Is per senior member for tho overseas fund bo removed. At present most of tho centres were in a bad financial position, and the removal of the levy would enable them to improve their finances. The centres would benefit as they could obtain more revenue from the clubs. As there was no immediate prospect of any swimmers visiting New Zealand or being sent away tho loss of the levy would not affect the council. The Chairman expressed approval of Canterbury’s suggestion, and said that in recent years visits from overseas’ swimmers had not proved very profitable or beneficial, lie thought centres could well do with the extra revenue that would be secured by the removal of tho levy. After further discussion it was decided to support the Canterbury remit. CARNIVAL OFFICIALS. Officials for tire “ Learn to Swim Week ” gala carnival on Saturday, November 14, were appointed as follows:—Superintendent, Mr J. L. M‘lndoc; local officer and referee, Mr W. 11. Buckland; referee for life saving event, Mr A. Findlay; swimming judges —Messrs E. H. James, W. U. Buckland, D. Bannatyne, and C. H. Hayward; diving judges—Messrs E. G. James, J. L. MTndoe, and W. A. Jenkins; calculator, Mr N. M. Sutherland; starter, Mr W. A. Jenkins; check starter, Mr G. Staples; starter’s steward, Mr N. M. Sutherland; timekeepers, Messrs T. P. Williamson, A. Grcig, F. J. Townsend, and T. Fogg; press steward, Mr B. Leslie; competitors’ stewards, Messrs A. Findlay and W. A. Buckland; ladies’ stewards, Mrs P. A. Mathieson and Mrs E. G. James; Result Board stewards—Messrs D. Woodfield, H. D. Gillies, and B. Leslie; competitors’ door steward, Mr A. C. W. Porter; door stewards, Messrs Beauchamp aiid G. Tuckoy; ticket sellers, Mr and Mrs E. G. James; rope stewards, Messrs W. Williams and S. Brown; megaphonists. Messrs D. Thomson and E. C. Isaacs. GENERAL. The secretary of the Dunedin Training College Swimming gnd Life Saving Club advised that tuere were six declared members in the club, and that all the students were members of the club. It was stated that this brought the number of swimmers under the centre to 499. 'The secretary of the New Zealand Council wrote making an appeal fol’ assistance from centres.to tho Hawke’s Bay Centre, which had sought assistance from the council and other centres consequent upon the recent disastrous earthquake.—lt was decided to reply expressing sympathy with the project, and to explain that the Otago Centre itself had very little money to come and go on at the present time. The New Zealand Council wrote statiilg that it had approved of January 22 and 23 as the date for the New Zealand intermediate and junior championships, and the Riddifprd Baths, Lower Tlutt, as the venue of the meeting. The council also advised that the annual meeting would be held on November 2G. The town clerk advised that the centre and chibs would be charged £1 a year for the use of the club room at the baths, but Messrs E. H. James and W. A. Jenkins were appointed a deputation to wait on the City Council to place before it reasons why the free use of the room should be granted. _ The Kiwi Club was granted permission to alter the date of its annual carnival from January 19 to January 15, while January 23 was approved ns the date of the club’s harbour race.