THE MENACE OF THE RIVER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 305, 22 November 1934, Page 6

THE MENACE OF THE RIVER.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Notwithstanding the number of safe bathing facilities that the city of Palmerston North affords, quite a large number of folk prefer the river, with all its risks. That being so, why not proceed to make the river safe by instituting preventive measures against possible drowning mishaps. After fill, the river is the only bathy coupled with the ocean, that nature cleans oiit cheaply, automatically, and continuously. Let me commend the Life Saving Club of this town, if there is any, or to whom it may concern, the desirability of marking dan gerous spots in the river by means o J buoys or flagged poles, the provision of life belts and lines, which could be always held in readiness, and locked up when not required. And why not a boat? Now, what is there offering in case of emergency? In a good many cases people willing, though powerless, to help, painfully look on whilst others drown. In some cases the would-be victim is favoured by the presence in the vicinity of some courageous swimmer, but not always. If 1 am any judge, the feeling of most parents possessed of the knowledge that their kith and kin were indulging at the river is one of great anxiety. lam sure that there are very few of them who would not be willing to contribute two or three coppers per swim to provide the services of river patrols, whose duty it would be during the bathing season to patrol the river-bathing area, equipped with life-saving appliances, and so relieve them of the constant fear of the possibility of having some one near and dear to them brought home, a victim of what has unfortunately become to be known as the New Zealand death, viz., drowning.—l am, etc., W. F. CUTLER. 39 Ada Street, Palmerston North, November 21, 1934.