SWIMMING IN SCHOOLS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 162, 10 June 1929, Page 6

SWIMMING IN SCHOOLS.

PLENTY OF ENTHUSIASM

MISS STOCKLEY’S REPORT

CHRISTCHURCH, June 8. Miss Ena Stockley, of Auckland, has reported to the New Zealand Swimming Council on the coaching tour which she made in the Nelson, Westland, South Canterbury and Ashburton centres, in company with Misses K. Miller and L. Hood.

“A point I would ’like to stress,” said Miss Stockley, “is the urgent need for special Government coaches to visit the schools and colleges to instruct children in the art of swimming, not only because it is a means of protecting and saving life, but also because it is a most beneficial form of exercise. The appalling number of deaths by drowning this summer should be sufficient evidence of the need for Government assistance in teaching swimming. In the majority of cases, as you know, the victims could not swim, or were weak swimmers.

“If the enthusiasm of all school teachers and other educational officials whom wo met on our tour is to bo taken as an indication, there is not the shadow of a doubt that they would favour the appointment of Government instructors. If two such coaches were appointed, ono for each island, they could, by spending about a week in each town,' - set the children well on the right way.” The council decided that Miss Stocklev bo thanked for her report, and that she and other members of the team be thanked for the excellent work they had done on tour.