BEACH VANDALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24827, 29 January 1942, Page 4

BEACH VANDALS

LIFErSAVING GEAR RUINED LOSS OF LIFE RESULTS (Special) AUCKLAND. Jan. 28. "Had the box-ljne outfit provided by the Surf L.fej -saving • Association (Auckland), noc •' Leen tampered with and mutilated b,y vandais. there is every possibility Sthat the young man's life would have bsen saved," said the chairman of the; association. Mr A. Gardner, describing tne results of an examination of ihte equipment at Muriwai Beach, shortly- alter the death by drowning there on Sunday afternoon of Mr Richard Hupkins, aged 21, of Avondale. Going j to the assistance of two children who' were in danger in the surf. Mr Hopkins himself was soon in difficulties. A young woman tried to reach him with a line, but this parted from the belt, and Mr Hopkins disappeared. I Mr Gardner explained that the association's box-line ioutfit was not used in the rescue uttenjtpt because it had been ruined. As recently as last month the outfit was inspected by the association's gear officer, tested, and found to be in good iprder. By Sunday, however, only 50 yards of. the 440 yards length of line* remained in the box. The line usevtl in the rescue efforts was detached', from an old, and useless reel. This r£el, the property of the Muriwai Domain Board, had been condemned last; summer by the association, which placed its own outfit there. The boardjs line had also been tampered with, \ and those responsible had not c-stadhed it correctly to the belt agaiafi. The association had ■ been refused a petrol allowance, added Mr Gardner, so that it was impossible for the inspection of lines to be {regularly maintained Consequently. • Muriwai Beach would have to remain "Through the absence of senior surfmen on war service,," Mr Gardner continued "the association is unable to have beaches patrolled efficiently, and has to rely on thfe gear it provides for the safety of bathers at distant places. There are* a number of box-line outfits scattered! about various beaches and we can only depend upon tmblic-spiritedness and ordinary common sense for them to be maintained in good order. Our experience goes to show that persons interfering with the lines generally use them '.for fishing.