LEARN TO SWIM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 6 December 1938, Page 8

LEARN TO SWIM

HUGE CAMPAIGN THIS SUMMER 75,000 NEW SWIMMERS THE OBJECTIVE i DOMINION-WIDE ORGANISATION j A New Zealand-wide effort is to ; be made to teach at least 75,000 j people to swim during the months of this summer. The sponsors of this campaign are the National Committee I of Swimming and Life-Saving. Last : season, the activities of that body | and its district committees throughout the country, resulted in nearly j 13,000 children and adults being ; taught to swim. According to authoritative figures, an average of 144 persons a year meet death through drowning in the Dominion. During the first three months of this year 77 people lost their lives in this way, against 65 who were killed as a result of road accidents. It is said that these figures would be doubled were it not for the work of the surf life-saving clubs, who last year made no fewer than 141 rescues. It is figures such as these that must make everyon: realise, that the “Learn to Swim” movement is a national service of the very highest importance. The Minister of Internal Affairs (.the Hon. W. Parry) has promised the committee a sum of £3OOO towards the campaign, which has his thorough approval. This subsidy will give the movement the impetus that it requires and will at the same time stimulate the swimming and life-saving clubs, whose gratuitous services have so long gone unrecognised. The death rate from drowning cannot be cut down by dependence on life-saving clubs alone. The toll will not be reduced substantially until evreybody, young and old, becomes their own . life-saver. This ideal can only be attained by every non-swimmer learning to swim. There are beaches and rivers, where it is not possible for members of life-saving clubs to be always present. Thus people who go bathing unattended in the salt or fresh waters must realise the necessity of avoiding accidents by learning to swim. Swimming is not difficult to learn, when the experienced instructor is on hand, and it is also one of the greatest health-giving and exhilarating pastimes known. As part of this year s huge campaign, a circular will be sent before the holidays to every child in every school in the Dominion. In effect the circular will be “thumbnail” instructions, complete with illustrations. The children will be able to study them during the holidays, and be well pre- ' pared for the climax of the “Learn to Swim” Campaign in February, when j even the smallest place will have some- | one to teach non-swimmers. Where it is not possible to provide j tuition in baths or other suitable stretches of water it is proposed to take small canvas baths to schools, till them with water and carry on the work. It is also proposed to arrange for tours of the Dominion by some of the best available swimmers and in- j structors. It might be mentioned here that almost ten per cent of drownings are children of such a young age that they cannot under any circumstances help themselves. The attention of all parents should be drawn to the necessity of keeping young children away from ponds, creeks, sheep dips, and troughs. During the “Learn-to-Swim Week” which was held in the Nelson district last December, by the excellent efforts of a few enthusiasts and with the ready co-operation of the school teachers, a total of over 400 were taught to swim. This year it is hoped to more than double that figure. This will be a task of some magnitude and if success is to be attained every swimmer in the district will have to make a sacrifice of time. As many men as possible are wanted to sacrifice a little time that others may benefit. This is not a work for a few enthusiasts, but a work for every swimmer in the district. It is also hoped that some older members of the community will assist with the formation of a distric* committee for the administration and furtherance of this worthy object. For this purpose a public meeting has been called for Thursday night, Bth December, as set out in a notice in this issue. It is confidently expected that a ready response will be received.