THE VALUE OF SWIMMING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20317, 27 January 1928, Page 8

THE VALUE OF SWIMMING.

Not only is swimming one of the most healthful of exercises, but it represents an accomplishment of recognised practical value. It is often said with much cogency that every boy and girl should be able to swim, and at the present day more is being done, it is satisfactory to think, than at any previous time with the object of bringing about such a result. The pupils attending our schools are given opportunities for learning to swim such as were never provided for their parents, and possibly the effect may be that in the course of time a population may be evolved, in the towns at hast, which will be able in a literal sense to keep its head above water. The New Zealand Swimming Championship meeting at Dunedin this week has had the effect of focussing local attention in an unusual degree upon tho accomplishment and practice of swimming, and it would be a welcome development weru this access of local interest in the subject to be a permanent rather than a sporadic, manifestation. The climate in the southern parts of New Zealand does not offer the

same encouragement to swimming as is afforded in the north, but during a summer such as we are enjoying the inclination to take full advantage of our glorious beaches and indulge in seabathing needs no stimulus, and reserves of health and energy are no doubt being stored up from day to day by the young people and their elders who are happily able to derive full benefit from the vacation period. But it is particularly necessary that care should be exercised by those who bathe and swim in the open sea. There are many drowning accidents every year in the Dominion—more than there should be—and, to a large extent, ignorance of the art of swimming, and no doubt also of the means by which life may be saved, must be held accountable. Within the last few days a resolution to the effect that representations should be made to the Minister of Education with a view to having swimming and methods of lifesaving made an optional subject for a school teacher’s certificate has been adopted by both the annual conference of the New Zealand Swimming Association and the New Zealand branch of the Royal Life-saving Society. It is reasonably urged that in too many cases lives are lost by drowning because those who may bo in a position to attempt a rescue have no practical knowledge of the methods which should be adopted in saving life in such circumstances. Whatever the merits of the proposal which is to be placed before the Minister of Education, there is no question of the desirability of children being taught to swim and instructed in approved methods of life-saving for application in cases of emergency.