LEARN TO SWIM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 9 December 1938, Page 8

LEARN TO SWIM

THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN UNSUCCESSFUL MEETING LAST NIGHT ANOTHER TO BE CALLED The public meeting called last evening to discuss the “Lcarn-to-Swim j Campaign” and to form a committee to carry out the organisation work attract- j ! '*d an attendance of only five, including i Mr F. E. Boulton and Mr T. T. Bolan. ' j president and secretary respectively i i of the Nelson Swimming Centre, con- ! venors of the meeting, After Mr Boulton had explained the purpose of the meeting and various: suggestions had been made to induce j greater public interest in the campaign, j it was decided to call another meeting next week. Mr Boulton said that last year a “Learn-to-Swim Week” had been held ! |in which many children and a few adults had been taught to swim in j Nelson. This year, however, the whole ! of February was to be devoted to the campaign, which would involve a great deal of extra work. They wished par- ; j ticularly to get at the children in the back-blocks where no facilities were , available. The Government was proJ viding £3OOO to defray the cost of) transporting these children to places 1 where they could be taught, and where ! necessary it was possible that canvas i ! swimming baths would be constructed and taken to the schools. No difficulty was anticipated locally in obtaining the required number of instructors, continued Mr Boulton, but what was needed was an active committee to go into the matter of organising the district for the campaign so that the instructors would know just where and when their services would be required. The secretary .of the National Learn-to-Swim Committee. Mr N. A. Ingram, would be visiting Nelson ion 20th December to meet the local i | committee, so that there was not much ! time to be wasted. Arrangements had j also to be made for the visit of the i touring lady instructors on the same , date. The following extract from a circular ! to district secretaries showed the need , of forming a committee as soon as pos- ] sible: ‘ “On being officially advised of the visit of the general secretary or other j c fficial to your district please arrange • for a meeting of your committee and | any volunteer workers. The secretary is prepared to address public meetings it need be and also radio talks if same can be arranged with the local stations. The National Committee is most ! anxious that its visiting officials will be given every opportunity to discuss mat- i , ters of organisation with district com- ; mittees and local enthusiasts and urges j , the fullest co-operation in this matter. “The National Committee has under- j taken a big effort this year but feels ' ! confident that the task can be accom- * : plished and that the number taugh to I ; swim during the period of the cam-! paign will justify the confidence of the ; Government in our organisation. The , i objective is—l.ooo volunteer instruc- ! • ; tors, 75.000 taught to swim." { ;