REEL AND BELT

NZ Truth, Issue 1200, 29 November 1928, Page 6

REEL AND BELT

Noble Work Done Gratuitously By Surf Clubs

With, the growing popularity of surfing throughout New Zealand, the v risk of death by drowning grows accordingly. Unfortunately, all the Dominion's favorite beaches are not so safe that bathers can idly ignore measures of caution and enjoy the pastime without fear of danger.

IT is invariably found that those beaches which are unceasingly patrolled by organized surf swimmers, such as Lyall Bay, Paraparaumu and New Brighton, become the most popular with picnickers merely. because of the measure of protection afforded them. ' The bather frolics about m the briny, secure m the knowledge that if he loses his wind, suffers an attack of cramp, or gets swept away m an undertow, there is a body of stalwart, strongswimmers at hand, trained to dash through the breakers and, with a combination of corn-age, brawn and skill, to bring the bather m distress back to safety. ' . But what of the rescuers themselves? Swimming is their summer hobby, but apart from the pleasure they derive, and the applause or praise they may receive for effecting a gallant save, they give their services purely voluntarily and without fee or award. New Zealand, as an insular nation, and being blessed with rivers and a wide variety of bathing facilities, should have a very small percentage of non-swimmers, yet drowning has become so prevalent that it has been dubbed the "New Zealand death," and there is no doubt, this summer will have its crop of fatalities. Apart from the foolhardy members of the community who have to be' protected against themselves, there are thousands of people who appreciate the protection offered by the vigilant surf clubs which patrol the beaches of the favorite seaside resorts. These men are performing 1 a service just as useful and essential as the fire brigades and the ambulance divisions.

State and local body aid keeps these two latter organizations equipped and m existence, yet the guardians of thousands of lives on beaches throughout the summer give their own time ungrudgingly, and by their own subscriptions and social activities find the money with which to equip themselves and keep their organizations going. The spirit of competition maintains a high standard of efficiency m rescue methods, and the resuscitation of life to the apparently drowned, but even m this direction, the expense of transporting teams from one centre to another to engrag-e m competition has to be borne, either by the clubs or by the individual members, wlier'e the- club. does not happen to be strong enough financially to do it. . Here is an. opportunity for the . new Government to express its approval of the work these clubs have been doing without fee or reward, for years. A State grant to surf clubs cannot be regarded as financial assistance to a group of individuals. It would be merely the payment of an insurance premium to safeguard the lives of thousands of people each summer, and would be an expression of the State's interest m the masses while they are engaging m healthy recreation which must have a beneficial effect on the general health of the nation. The State provides that workers must, be safeguarded while engaged m their daily occupations. For a modest expenditure they could be covered" while at play also and thus a heavy load would be removed from the shoulders of those who should not be asked to give their spare time and' find the money also, m a noble cause.