SWIMMING FACILITIES

Evening Star, Issue 22780, 15 October 1937, Page 5

SWIMMING FACILITIES

NEED FOR MORE POOLS OVERSEAS VISTOR'S IMMH-SBIBKS That‘New. Zealand swimmers can put the Dominion on the map if the proper facilities are provided is the opinion of Mr James Stewart, a visitor to Dunedin who has spent many years in Hongkong and who was one of the founders of the Far Eastern Olympic Games, Mr Stewart comes with high recommendation* from the Central Executive of the Royal Life Saving Society, London, and already he has given indication of his great prowess as a swimmer and a coach, a demonstration to members of the Otago branch of the Royal Life Saving Society being staged on Wednesday night. Baths are most essential in any community, he states. They are not costly; but in New Zealand, wherever possible, he suggests that they should be covered or with sliding roofs for the summer months. _ In the Old Country at the present time, Mr Stewart states that every facility is given to local authorities to build baths, and assistance is being given by the Health Ministry, and the local authorities appreciate greatly the advice given by the Amateur Swimming Association with regard to layouts, etc. In its report on physical education at Home the Medical Committee declared that swimming is the best all-round exercise, for every muscle is functioning properly and the body is being developed symmetrically. No form of exercise produces the long, supple, pliant muscles of the swimmer. Mr Stewart says that all training colleges should have competent instructors in swimming. Faulty instruction at the initial stages is just passed on, and is very hard to eradicate in later years.

“ Posture enters bur lives in all manner of doing,” said Mr Stewart. “ Good posture means better health and better athletes. ' The manner in which the head is carried is all important. In swimming the head governs the poise of the body in the water, also in every branch of athletics.”