LIFE SAVING

Evening Star, Issue 22414, 11 August 1936, Page 1

LIFE SAVING

OTAGO BRANCH ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Otago Branch of the Royal Life Saying Society was held in the baths last evening. Mr H. H. Henderson was in the chair. The annual report for the year ended May 31 stated that the committee was pleased to record _ that the society’s work had been maintained in the clubs and schools. There had been a small in the actual number of awards issued, and this must be accepted as an indication that they were still needing more active honorary instructors. The showing of the society’s film throughout Otago and Southland had been attended with much success, and the film would shortly be toured through New Zealand in company with other suitable films for special showings to -schools. As in previous years, the society had provided prizes for inter-t club _ life-saving events at the various carnivals, and these events were always keenly contested. The annual competition for. the girls’ secondary schools was held at the end of the summer, and was won by the Otago Girls’ High School, whose work the judges pronounced to be some of the best seen in Otago. The boys’ contest was not held this summer on account of. the change in the date of the competition. This event would in future be held in November during the secondary schools’ annual athletic sports meeting. A lifesaving competition for teams from companies of the Boys’ Brigade was held for the first time this year, the prize being a shield donated by the society. The winners were, the 18th Company (St. Peter’s), Caversham. under the able instruction of Mr A. Findlay. The Wellington (New Zealand) branch had been successful in winning the William Henry Memorial Cup, this being the first time the trophy bad come to New Zealand. A change in status had been made during the past year, and they were now known as a branch instead of a head centre. A change Ijad also been made in the design of the society’s certificates, and these were now much smaller than the old ones, and were printed in New Zealand. District representatives continued to actively carry on the society’s work in their various districts, and particular commendation was due to Mr A. Kingsland, of Invercargill, who had so ably succeeded Mr E. B. Fitzsimmons, who removed to Australia, and to Mr M. K. M'Culloch. of Oamaru. The average number of awards issued over the last eight years was 250, and_over the last three years 226. The institution of two now awards, the sea-water diploma and the .resusciatatiori certificate, would fill a want wh '(V had-often “been discussed. The sea-water diploma would not supersede the society’s diploma examination, but the tests of the new award had been devised to include such extra requirements as would make it commensurate in difficulty with the diploma of the society, despite the advantage of sea water. _ There was no “ honours division” in this test. The resuscitation certificate had been specially, devised for,those unable to do a test of life-saving in the water, and the granting of this award was subject to confirmation by tbe Central Executive.

In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet,.- the Chairman said that this year, .the branch had been under the average number of awards, due no doubt to adverse weather and the fact that the swimming championships had been held in Dunedin. The competition in the girls’ secondary schools had been very been, and the land drill had shown an. excellent all-round standard. During the year the society had presented a shield for competition among the Boys’ Brigade, and although there was a good entry, it was hoped that there would be a larger , entry in the future. 'Although the number of certificates issued could he larger, it must he remembered that each certificate represented some achievement. Referring to the question of finance, the speaker said tha,t the revenue amounted to £49 9s Id, and the expenses came to £49 4s lid, leaving a surplus of 4s 2d on the year's working. A grant from the New" Zealand Council of £l2,'obtained from the Life Saving Club, had proved very acceptable to the society. The report was seconded .by Mr J* Pereira, and adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. = The election of officers resulted;—Patron, Hon. F. Jones, M.P.; president, Air H. W. Henderson; vice-presi-dents—Messrs T. MDonald, E. CIsaacs, D. C. Bannatyne. A. Findlay, E. H. James, J. Pereira, P. N. Rundle, W. Fleming, J. L. MTndoe, W. A, Jenkins. H. D. Gillies, W. H. Matthews, P. Boulton, K. Evans, Rev. E,' T. Cox, A. J. Kingsland. AI. J. Rodgersou; treasurer, Mr H. H. Henderson; secretary, Mr P. ,A. Mathieson; assistant secretary, Aliss Al* B. Mathieson ; committee —Misses M. Collett, M. Gibson, Brother Ryan, Messrs ,A. Thomas, W. Wood. S. Brown; district representatives—Messrs J. - Russell. (Alexandra), K. Evans (Balclutha), A. J. Parsons (Gore), A. J. Kingsland (Invercargill). J. Curie (Kurow). U. Walker (Milton). M. L. Bohm (Naseby), AI. K. APCiilloch, G. Jones (Oamaru), G. Chapman - Cohen (Owaka) ; delegate to the New Zealand Council of the Royal Life Saving Society, Air F. J. Glackin; delegates t» the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, Alessra A. Findlay and D. C. Bannatyne; delegates to the Otago branch of the Ne'ir Zealand Surf Association, Alessrs A. Findlay and D. C. Bannatyne; honorary medical officers —Drs Clark Hanan, Stuart Aloore, W. Evans, and W. E. Carswell; honorary solicitor, Air I, Turnbull; honorary auditor, Mr N.Sutherland; honorary examiners--Alisses N. Fleming, A. Jones, AI, Boulton, AI. B. Alathieson, M. Collett, Af. Gibson, Alessrs E. H. James, K. Evans, H. H. Henderson, A. Findlay, W. A,Jenkins, AI. Taylor,. P. A. Alathieson, H. D Gillies, W. S. Hindmarsh, G. Frve, A. Thomas. G. Chapman-Cohen,-j/E. Salisbury, D. G. Bannatyne, C, Lewis. R Geddes, E. C. Isaacs, M. K, APCnlloch, P. E, Alathieson, E. Lewis, and AI. J. Rodgerson.