ART OF SWIMMING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 13990, 20 February 1909, Page 6

ART OF SWIMMING.

TEACHING IT AT SCHOOLS.

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER

[by telegraph.—press ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Friday. The Penguin disaster suggested to an Auckland school committee that swimming should be made a compulsory subject in all public schools, but a statement by the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister for Education, shows that there are insuperable difficulties in the way, though the Government is already doing a good deal to encourage the art. " It is impossible to make swimming a. compulsory subject," said Mr. Fowlds, "unless you have places for children to swim in. Undoubtedly it is an important matter, and I think everyone should learn to swim in places where there are suitable opportunities. I think care is already taken to train the children, but to make this compulsory would cany with it an obligation to provide swimming baths, which is, of course, a matter for the local authorities."' It was suggested by the Minister that a good deal of misapprehension existed as to the value of swimming in such a case as the Penguin disaster, when there was a rough sea, making it beyond the power of anyone to save himself by swimming alone, though it was. of course, of great value in enabling the unfortunate people to reach the. rafts and boats and to get ashore when they had drifted close to the beach. "We give encouragement to swimming by a capitation grant," continued the Minister. "The swimming and life-saving classes may be formed of children in Standard IV. of the primary schools, and those in secondary schools, and if 20 half-hour lessons are given in the season a payment is made of 2s 6d per pupil. The local authorities also assist materially by allowing scholars to use the baths free "of cost. At least Ido not know an exception to this rule." In 1907 comparatively few districts had taken advantage of the Government's offer of capitation, and only 81 classes were recognised by the Minister. Most interest appeared to be taken in the matter in North Canterbury, where there were 35 classes, while in Nelson, a comparatively small education district, 15 classes were in operation. Wanganui had six classes earning the grant, but in no other district were there more than two classes, Auckland, the largest educational district in New Zealand, having only one. Now, however, the demand for Government assistance is rapidly increasing, for there are 140 classes, Auckland district having set a good example by adding 19 t«> its pioneer class, while Otago's two have increased to 25.