PALMERSTON AND SWIMMING.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1455, 7 November 1911, Page 4

PALMERSTON AND SWIMMING.

The figures which we publish in GJUUGtion with the disonsaion at tbe Campbell Street Sohool Committee meeting last night serve as a postscript to reoent sad fatalities in wliioli Palmerston people were so tragically concerned. Campbell Street School, the leading State eobaol of the district has a roll of 719 and only 51 of those on the roll can swim. There is no reason to believe that tbe other schools would come out any better from a similar investigation and the figures are really appallin?. It cssd to be an article of faith once that every Colonial conM ride ami shoot and swim. How many of the present geMration in these towns can do any one of the three? Yet it is almost as important that a boy or girl should know !.>ow to swim as how to walk and oertaiuly they should learn both at almost the same time. Every one who cannot swim stands to some day possibly drown themselves or some one else and as the vogue for surf bathing increases the danger will inorease with it. No one who cannot sfcim should bathe In tbe sari. Hundreds do. There is no bettor exercise thau swimming and no more useful athletic accomplishment, yet we have suoh a record as this. It is to be hoped that Campbell street may get its bath and that it may begin a movement to make swimming a general instead of an exceptional accomplishment in the district."