TAKAPUNA BEACH INCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20242, 30 April 1929, Page 14

TAKAPUNA BEACH INCIDENT.

}>ir, —May 1 repudiate a statement in your issue of April 27 regarding the recent tragedy on Lake Pupuke'! It i.'S stated in the account of Master Percy White's hardships that tho lad effected a rescue off Takapuna Bwach some time, ago and (hat he handed his unconscious patient over to the Takapuna Surf Club to ho revived. This is contrary to fact, as never since (lie Hub was formed have we had cause to apply resuscitation to any person on the beach. Wo tako this statement as a shir on ourselves, as well as our club, that we should he on the beach for a. certain purpose, and that people should practically suggest that wa are asleep on duty. H. M. Moon, Hon. Sec.

("With reference to this letter a H.ehald representative interviewed Master Percy White, who said; "About the middle of January a boy named Andrews, from Auckland, was out on (ho raft which is moored off Takapuna Beach. Ho looked a bit white and I asked him if ho could get back all right. He said he thought he could. He started off and I followed. The tide was going out and was against him. Soon ho was in difficulties and 1 got him on my back. Someone, J think Allan Collins, came out and assisted us to the shore. Tho boy was done and had to be brought round. I was pretty well done, too. There was someone there who belonged to the Surf Club and T think the man who swam out (o assist is a member of the club. Anyway t;he boy Andrews had to be brought round, but I don't know who all the chaps were who came to assist when wo got ashore."]

THE DRIFT TO THE TOWNS. Sir, —Your correspondent's letter in Monday's Herald certainly puts forward a very good argument on this subject, but as ono who has a certain amount of personal interest in rural affairs, and. so needs to come in direct contact with some of the' farming poople, I would like to inform those who may not have the same insight into-rural matters that I know of cases where farmers now and in tho past havo and do pay well for good workers when they are lucky enough to get them. At To Kuiti, two lads I know who are working for a milking farmer are paid £3 10s per week, free board and lodgings, in a comfortable cottage, with telephone and radio fitted up. So, mar.v inferior employees had been tried that the farmer thinks'lie is fortunate to get these boys, neither of them 20 years of age yet. Another farmer with similar experience at Whangarei pays his man £3 15s per week, and says he is well worth the monev. B. King.