Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12245, 17 September 1925, Page 11

Volunteer life-saving crews are now a prominent feature of Australian benches on days when the public are bathing in great numbers The growth of this service was mentioned by Mr C. D. Paterson, president of the Life Surf Association of Australia, who ie returning to Sydney by the Niagara after a nine months?’ tour abroad. He said the association was started because so many people were taking to surf bathing, and numerous fatalities were occurring. The association now had branches in all parte of Australia, and had extended to Now Zealand, the volunteer members in Australia numbering about 5000. Teams of volunteer life savers were on• duty throughout busy days on the beaches in relays, amt “saves” of people who got into difficulty in the water were made at the rate of 500 a year. In announcing that a vocalist would sing, the Inspector of Police at Hamilton, Mr W. G. Woldmann, expressed the hope that the item would not be “Thora.” He added that that song was not very popular in police circles just now*. Those who knew the part the singing of “Thora” took in the escape of three prisoners from the Auckland police station last week appreciated the joke.