SURF TEAM'S RETURN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22981, 8 March 1938, Page 12

SURF TEAM'S RETURN

CONTESTS AT SYDNEY DIFFERENCE IN THE DRILL [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION J WELLINGTON, Monday "We can practically hold our own in rescue and resuscitation events and in belt matches, but when it comes to straight-out surf races where one has to take advantage of the incoming surf our men lacked experience compared with the New South Wales competitors," said Mr. H. S. Feast, of Christchurch, manager of the New Zealand life-saving team, which returned to-day from Sydney by the Awatea after having competed in life-saving events at the sesquicente ; nary celebrations. Mr. Feast said the greatest difficulty the New Zealanders experienced was in having to re-learn their drill. The Australian drill differed considerably from the New Zealand drill, and it was not possible to learn the drill properly from a handbook. In many details there were differences and time that otherwise would have been taken in perfecting the team's work had to bedevoted to learning the new drill. They received groat help from tho Australian officials, who allocated instructors to the Now Zealand team. . Mr. Feast said the question whether the New Zealand drill would be brought into conformity with the Australian was a matter for the New Zealand Lifesaving Council, and he would make a report on it.