SWIMMING

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3492, 30 October 1926, Page 10

SWIMMING

Australian Ladies on Tour

NOTES AND COMMENTS (By "Neptune.”) The star attraction in New Zealand swimming circles this season, will be the visit of the Misses Claire Could-| well and Kttic Robertson, two bril- j linnt Australian swimmers. The New I Zealand Council, which is sponsoring the tour, has left the beaten track in that it. has arranged for the visitors to visit country clubs, and the itinerary is certainly a. very lengthy and most costly one. in fact the most costly tour yet undertaken. The governing body has no doubt realised that it was about time that some help was given to the minor Centres and country clubs, who refiuire some encouragement in their districts, and there is little doubt that the visit of the Australian ladies will greatly encourage swimming in the country. The cost of the tour is estimated at £550, and the New Zealand Connell is asking 50 per cent, of the gross takings from all carnivals at which the ladies appear. With regard to centres and sub-centres, a guarantee of £25 is required, but unless this is exceeded, then the Council is due to lose. Consideration has been taken of the fact that with £25 to start, the club? are not likely to make a profit, and the Council is relying o/i the centres to make up any deficiency incurred in the country- The visit so far as the Council is concerned, has been arranged for the purpose of helping along the sport, and not to supply a cash balance. The proposed itinerary has been circulated to the centres and clubs, the suggested dates of interest to swimmers in the Manawatu Centre being as below: —

Nov. 23 —Arrive at Auckland. T>oc. 4-6 —At Wanganui. Bee. 7—At Feilding. Boc. !)—At Palmerston North. Bee. 28 —In Palmerston North, en route to New Plymouth.

,T?„n. 1.4-16—In Wellington aflm* tour of South Island. Jan. 17-21 —Free at Auckland. Jan. 22-28 —New Zealand Championships at Auckland. The Fcilding Club has decided to accept the offer of December 7. and the lady swimmers will arrive in the afternoon and take part in the night carnival. The Fcilding Club has held many successful carnivals and more than the usual quota of entries from the Palmerston North clubs are bound to bo received, while extra seating accommodation is to bo arranged. That carnivals in December are something to seriously consider is the view taken by the Manawatu Centre, as in that month it is very rare to have swimming in full swung, more particularly at the beginning of the month. Three years ago, the centre held a carnival for Harris, which proved a failure, whilst other small ventures early in the season ha\ c resulted in a loss. When word was received of the tour, and an opinion asked as to the suitability of the date suggested, it was decided to advise the New Zealand Council that December 0 was unfavourable and explained the reasons why. However, the Manawatu Centro did not let the matter rest at that, as it wanted the Australian ladies in Palmerston North, and as the proposed itinerary showed no fixed arrangements from January 17 to 21, just prior to the championships, an application for one of those dates was made, and there is every reason to believe that the Council will favourably consider the application. At the meeting at Fcilding to discuss the tour, the president of the club appeared to be under the misapprehension that the Centre was displaying apathy in the matter, and the writer has even' reason to believe that at the annual meeting of the Centre more is to bo heard of Foilding's attitude. The majority of the clubs have held their annual meetings, and judging by the large attendances at these, there appears to be a distinct wave of interest in swimming. One club enrolled over a dozen new members, and another club nine. Life-saving is one of the principal activities of the clubs, but the only one to take the study and practice of the methods seriously is the Y.M.C.A. Club. This year it is expected to have three classes going, men s ladies and boys, and it is to be hoped the other clubs will follow the example of this very young club. Thanks to the Palmerston North. Club, swimmers at the Municipal baths will have greater facilities for diving. A more up-to-date diving board has been erected, and the. club has decided to encourage this aspect of the natatorial snort. Members of the Palmerston North j Club would be well advised to read their rules. At the last annual meeting there was a discussion as to whether or not. those present wore to be considered members. Pule 7, which reads; “Notice shall be sent, to each member on his election, with a request for his subscription, payment of which shall constitute mombership, and he shall continue a member (unless struck off) until written notice of bis resignation shall have been received by tbc secretary.** —This should clear up an argument that has raged for some throe or four years.

Manawatu Centre SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. The seventh annual report of the Manawatu Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, to be presented at the, annual meeting, reads: —"The executive lias pleasure in reporting that it has been still further successful in its endeavour to place swimming on a firm basis in the Manawatu, for reasons which will be referred to later. The activities of the Centre in the past season were somewhat curtailed, but it is hoped that during the forthcoming season greater

opportunities to better the position of the finances of the Centre will b« afforded. The New Zealand championships will next season be held, at Auckland, commencing on January 22, 1927, and in the event Of this Centre being represented at such championship meeting, it will be faced with a fairly heavy expenditure, and the executive would urge upon all delegates the necessity of doing their utmost to assist the Centre to raise the necessary funds. "The balance-sheet discloses a credit balance, of £B, which must be considered satisfactory, and it will be seen that the Centre’s assets over liabilities are £l4 19s, as compared with £8 3s 4d last season. The executive would again stress the importance of the various club secretaries, furnishing returns, as it is impossible to ascertain the number of active swimmers in the Centre: it is hoped that the various Clubs will do their best to assist the Centre secretary in the fulfilment of his duties, especially in respect to requests in connection with returns, fees, etc. Activities of the Centre. “Carnivals were held in January and March during the season, and at the former carnival the Centre were successful in arranging a visit of aa Auckland team on their return from the New- Zealand Championships. At the latter Carnival the Centre Championships were held and resulted aa follows: —Girls’ 100 yards: Miss V. Jones 1. Miss X. Nichols 2. Girls’ 50 yards: Miss V. Jones 1, Miss I. Nicholi 2. Boys’ 50 yards: A. Penman 1, M. Wilton 2. Boys’ 100 yards: A. Penman 1, M. Wilton 2. 220 men’s championship: C. McKenzie 1, H. Lunn 2. 220 men's breaststroke championship: G. S. Lender 1, S. McKenzie 2. 100 yards championship: C. McKenzie 1, L. Cockroft 2. 100 yards ladies’ handicap: Miss Dewo 1, Miss H. Smith 2. Mr. S. McKenzic v a member of the Palmerston North Club, was an entrant in the New Zealand Breaststroke Championship doing a credit able performance, finishing third.