BATHING FATALITIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27012, 22 February 1949, Page 6

BATHING FATALITIES

Sir,—May I express rav deep concern at the tragic loss through drowning of the lives of three young people and one adult during the week-end. Although It is customary after such fatalities for letters to appear deploring the risks taken by bathers on the beaches, these in my opinion serve no good purpose. As one with 30 years’ experience in surf bathing on many beaches throughout New Zealand. I wish to draw attention to what I consider the grpat weakness to be overcome before we' can hope to redude to a minimum the number of losses through drowning on our beaches. In the cause lies the desperate necessity for those people who, during the hot days of summer, desire to get into the salt water to cool off. to learn the arts of swimming and floating to be able to indulge safely in such a health-giving recreation. Thousands of people who go to the beaches in summer have never learned even the rudiments of the sport, and therein lies the danger, not only to themselves, but also to those who have to go to their rescue. Something should be done to give nonswimmers an opportunity of acquiring a knowledge which might stand them in good stead, and I suggest to your readers and all those interested a proposal which could help to give them that knowledge. The - construction of a salt-water pool on the Domain Board reserve at St. Kilda, with a capacity for 500 swimmers, would serve to give a large number of people the chance of learning to swim, and to enjoy the salt water while doing so. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of voung people from all over the city, who otherwise migh become easy victims on some of the worst bathing beaches in the country, could be given instruction. Built adjacent to the beach itself, all the pleasures of sun-bathing on the sand would still be available. If the St. Kilda Beach Improvement Society, which is doing grand work, has not already considered the idea, X commend this suggestion to them. I feel confident that the capital required for the proposal would be readily subscribed by the public, and approach to the Government for a grant or an allocation from the art union funds should' receive sympathetic consideration. i - In conclusion, I suggest that the secret of minimising the number of fatalities on our beaches lies not m preventing people from bathing—that could never be done—but in giving ample opportunity under healthy conditions for bathers to fit themselves for this excellent outdoor recreation. Surely the needless k> Ss of young lives in the past can be dedicated to something of a practical nature which would serve generations to come, and in so doing meet an obligation which I consider is the duty of every citizen in Dunedin,.—l am. etc., Life Preserver.