LIFE-SAVING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16137, 14 January 1913, Page 4

LIFE-SAVING.

MEETING AT SUMNER. A meeting convened by tbo Mayor of Sumner (Mr H. J. Marriner) was held in the Town Hall, Sumner, last night to discuss measures for the protection of bathers and the question of beach patrols. Delegates were present from the following local bodies: —Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr Gyrus J. R. A\illiams); Sumner Borough Council (Mr H. J. Marriner and Councillors G. Brewer and G. AV. C. Smithson);. Christchurch Tramway Board and New Brighton Borough Council (Mr J. A. Flesher); Sumner branch of the Royal Life-Saving Society (Messrs F. L. Anderson, It. A. Kerr and P. A. A. Schwarts); Canterbury Head Centre Royal Life-Saving Sooiety (Messrs G. E. Billson and K. Bassett). The Mayor of Sumner presided, i The chairman, in oponing the pro- ! ceedings, said it would bo useless to draft by-laws unless they were carried out. Unless bathers obeyed the orders given, by-laws were not sufficient to j control surf bathing. The restriction of area was the first j question to occupy attention, and the | mothods in use in Australia wore briefly | outlined. It was urged that restrici tions of area should bo mado so that those on patrol could bo immediately available should an accident occur. A doubt was -expressed as to whether \ restrictions could bo successfully enforced. . Mr G. E. Billson moved:—"That the

bathing area should be restricted and that the public should bo warned that persons bathing outside the defined area would do so at their own risk.” , Mr Flesher said that the difficulty at New Brighton would be the length of beach to bo patrolled. Ho recommended that boards should bo erected indicating dangerous _ spots. This would mmimiso the risk, but no precautions which might bo taken would entirely do away with the danger. Mr Cyrus Williams expressed the opinion that the talk about pot-holes was all nonsense. He believed that the Now Brighton boach was as smooth as could bo wished for. Occasionally a depression of a few inches was made by a stingaroo or some other fish, and a bather because he happened to go down suddenly for a depth of a few inches be-

came flurried and circulated a story about pot-holes. Another speaker said that the notices which had been posted at Sumner for years wero never read, and printed notices would bo useless. It was stated that the most dangerous part of Sumner beach was from tho pier to the first shelter shed. Mr Billson’s motion was carried, and tho patrolling of defined areas was next discussed. Mr K. Bassett 6nid that the LifeSaving Society would always patrol tho beach on holidays, and would nominate efficient men to carry out the necessary duties. It was asked that the members of tho Society should be vested with tho powers of special constables. Tho opinion was expressed by thoso present that it was desirable that special constables should bo elected, and a motion to that effect was carried. Mr R. A. Kerr, in discussing the question of signals, said that tho lifeboat signal on Cave Rock was totally out-of-date. He recommended the adoption of the method used in Sydney, but admitted that the question of cost was a great barrier to bo overcome. It was finally decided that a bell should be installed to draw the attention of the patrol should assistance bo required. The question of prescribing penalties for persons giving false alarms was left to the various local bodies to decido for themselves when drafting their bylaws. Mr F. L. Anderson suggested that all members of the life-boat crows should obtain the Lifo-Saving Society’s award as a certificate of their swimming ability and knowledge of lifesaving and resuscitation. The question of costume was discussed, and Mr' Flesher said that Now Brighton already had a by-law relating to the subject which seemed to have the desired effect. The proceedings then terminated.