"LEARN TO SWIM WEEK"

Evening Star, Issue 21254, 8 November 1932, Page 12

"LEARN TO SWIM WEEK"

GOOD WORK ACCOMPLISHED OFFICIAL OPENING FUNCTION .Despite the rain last night, the Municipal Baths wore thronged by an eager, enthusiastic crowd tor the first evening session in connection with the second “Learn to Swim Week ” of the Otago Centro of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, and the mini her of learners in the pool totalled about ■got). That did not marl: the limit of those receiving instruction, however, for the centre provided instructors for improvers, and not a few were to he found around the diving boards, where expert coaching was given to those in search of it. The ranks of the, learners contained novices of all ages, ranging from small hoys and girls to adults of middle age. And it is worthy of mention that sonic of the older learners applied themselves to the first stages of instruction with ns much diligence as the youngsters, it is not to bo expected that persons who have reached middle age should achieve a very high degree of proficiency in the water, but there is no reason why they should not bo able to acquire sufficient knowledge of the various strokes to make swimming a very pleasurable recreation for them. With some forty or fifty instructors available, it was possible last night for almost every pupil to receive quite a fair amount of individual instruction, and among the younger pupils, with whom such a campaign as this must largely deal, a good deal of promise was shown, quite few being capable of “ paddling ’’ or kicking their way across the poof at the end of the first lesson. Breaststroke and crawl are being taught, and, while there is the usual largo number desirous of attaining proficiency at the crawl, it was rather noteworthy that the ranks of the breaststroke pupils showed an increase on the numbers recorded Inst year. The work of the instructors was greatly simplified by the division of the baths "into sections, two or three instructors working to each section, each with four or five pupils, and sometimes more. The clubs have eo-oporated with the centre in the provision of instructors for the week, and the work ol drafting them to the various sections of the pool and of arranging groups lias boon in the capable hands of Mr R. A. Mathieson (superintendent of the baths), who lias devoted a good deal of time to the preliminary organising work. The official opening of “ Learn to Swim Week ” was performed before the commencement of the instruction session last night, the president of the Otago Swimming Centre (Mr J. L. M'lndoo) expressing his pleasure at seeing such a large, attendance. He stated that the main object of the centre' in running such a campaign was not to cultivate champions, but to encourage as great a number of people as possible to learn to swim and to take an interest in swimming. He mentioned that lakt year a largo number were able to swim" with a certain degree of proficiency, and as an incentive to learners and 'instructors ho proposed this year to offer a prize valued at 10s Od to the winner of a special race on Saturday night for those who were genuine nonswimmers before “ Learn to Swim Week.” Ho also intended to offer a similar prize to the instructor who taught the winner. Air AHlndoe expressed his gratification at the splendid response made by members of clubs in connection with the instruction of learners, and also stated that the centre appreciated the valuable work that had been done by Air Atathieson in organising the effort so thoroughly. Air Al‘lndoo said that special tuition _was_ being provided at the ladies’ session in the afternoons, and ho also referred to the fact that learners would have the opportunity of expressing their appreciation of the centre’s efforts by giving their support to the gala to bo held at the end of the campaign on Saturday night. Centro members were present in force last night, and it was generally agreed that the organisation was more thorough than was the case last year, there being less confusion in drafting pupils to their classes. Messrs W. A. Jenkins, E. H. James, W. Williams. D. Bannatyne, and A. Greig bad a good deal to do with this state of affairs, and other centre members attended to the numerous details that the inauguration of such an ambitions project entails. The lunch hour session promises to be popular during the week, and there was another good attendance to-day. Business classes are being arranged, and the centre is prepared to provide instructors for special classes from any firm.