LEARNING TO SWIM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23259, 31 January 1939, Page 14

LEARNING TO SWIM

[NATIONAL CAMPAIGN IiOMMENCEMENT TO-MORROW NEED IN AUCKLAND PROVINCE The result of an investigation by the Auckland branch of the National Committee of Swimming and LifeIsaving into the swimming ability of schoolchildren is considered by the branch to emphasise the necessity of the national learn-to-swim campaign, Iwhich begins to-morrciw. In the Auckland Province there was one swimmer among every three schoolchildren. The low proportion of juvenile swimmers indicates that adults, having received less encouragement to swim in their youth,'are much less able to take care of themselves in the water. Returns from schools selected at random Illustrated the serious weakness at swimming. .An Auckland suburban school, with a roll of 526, had 450 non-swimmers. The 15 pupils of a school iu a rural area close to tne city were all unable to swim. Another school in the Bay of Plenty district had 26 pupils, 22 of whom could not swim. A North Auckland school possessed only four Bwimmers among 74 pupils. Another Auckland suburban school close to a popular beach reported that 200 of its 300 pupils could swim. Of the 86 children at a "V\ atkato schood, 42 had learned to swim. Schools with their own swimming pools showed the best averages. Th 6 problem of the adult non-swimmers is one to which the national committee is Riving: special attention. No effort is being spared to make the means of instruction available to adults at convenient times. Instruction is under the direct control of tho New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, one of the three organisations forming the National Committee of Swimming and Life-saving. OFFICIAL INSTRUCTION i ; [EXPLANATION OF SYSTEM LECTURES BY ROTORUA COACH The Rotorua coach, Mr. J. B. Perrin, who is considered one of the most competent swimming authorities in New Zealand, will explain the official instruction system for the national learn-to-swim campaign to Auckland volunteers at three meetings this week. The first meeting will be held to-night at the pavilion of the Takapuna Surf Lifesaving Club. Another will be held in the council chamber of the Town Hall on Thursday night, for the benefit of instructors residing on the city side of the harbour. Mr. Perrin's final address will be to members of tho Otahuhu Amateur Swimming Club and other volunteers in the club s rooms at Otahuhu on Friday night. He will leave Auckland on Saturday to visit other towns in the Auckland Province. WAITEMATA CLUB CARNIVAL TO-MORROW NIGHT food entries have been received by the "Waitemata Amateur Swimming and LifeSaving Club for its carnival in the Tepid Baths to-morrow night. The competitors will include most of the Auckland champions, among whom are P. Hanan, N. Crump, A. Pascoei, P. E. Mathieson, M. Cleary, F. S. Taylor and Miss R. Stackpole. There will be inter-club relay races and a water polo match.