LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1930, Page 2

LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT.

(To (he Editor.) Sir, —in the report of the Taranaki head centre of the Royal Life Saving Society, published in your issue of September 27, a statement appears in regard to the equipment of reels and equipment on the various Taranaki beaches, which is misleading. The report states that various beaches, amongst which is Opunake, had been provided with the reel, belt and rope, and goes on to say that the supplying and erection of reels has been a severe drain on finances, etc. The point I wish to make clear is that the centre lias really done nothing in the way of equipping the Opunake beach, the whole of this having been done by the Opunake club, aided by generous public support. We have at present two reels and equipment for each, and not one penny of the centre’s funds have been spent on same, and 1 do not think I am far wrong when J say that the Opunake club is the only one in Taranaki which has provided its own reels, and equipment. In this connection I may say that our club buys its reels from the Life Saving Association of Australia at a much cheaper price than can be obtained locally, and, furthermore, they are a. much better job. During last season my club’s representawere severely censured at a. ineetiugjof. the centre for buying a new reel without first making application to the centre, but, surely, we were in order in buying a cheaper and better reel with our own funds. I hope the centre officials will not regard this letter as hostile or critical, as it is not intended to be; it is merely intended as an explanation in regard to a wrong impression, which does not do justice to the Opunake people who have so solidly supported our club, financially and otherwise, in enabling it to fully equip Opunake beach. I fully realise the excellent work done by the centre in equipping other beaches, and realise t. difficulties in regard to finance—l am, etc., J. N. STEPHENSON, , President. Opunake Surf Life Saving Club.