LIFE-SAVING CLUBS ORGANISE

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1932, Page 9

LIFE-SAVING CLUBS ORGANISE

NEW DOMINION BODY FORMED. furtherance of surf work. With the object of furthering the interests of surf clubs and of controlling national championship meetings, » new organisation, the New Zealand Surf Association, has been formed- with, headquarters at Wellington. The new body will constitute a surf section of the Royal Life-Saving Society, . and each district will have representation by one delegate. The districts embraced are Wellington, Taranaki, Manawatu, Hawke’s Bay, Auckland, Wanganui, Canterbury, Otago an<i Southland, and about 43 life-saving clubs will be identified with the'new association. The control of' surf life-saving in the Dominion in the past has been in the hands of the Royal Life-Saving Society, with the Dominion council at Christchurch. It has been the opinion of the majority of life-saving clubs for some years that they should band themselves into a separate body for the purposes of standardising their work throughout the Dominion and taking steps to ensure that better support is received from the Government and local bodies. The fact that the Royal Life-Saving Society is concerned with every branch or life-saving, including still water work and instruction in schools, has resulted, says the Dominion, in the life-sav-ing clubs considering they are not receiving the amount of attention their important work warrants. The matter was discussed at a meeting of delegates from Wellington clubs recently, and it was decided to tend a deputation, consisting of Mr. F. Chapman, chairman of the Wellington branch of the Royal Life-Saving Society, _ and Mr. P. Coira to meet the Dominion council at Christchurch. The conference resulted in the formation of the new national association. The association will take charge of all surf life-saving in the Dominion and will control the national championships. This is the first time in the aquatic history of the Dominion that a controlling body has been situated at Wellington. Indications’are that every centre will support the new body. Mr. F* Chapman has been appointed acting-secre-tary, and as soon as the delegates are appointed preparations will commence for the New Zealand championships, which will be organised for next February on a comprehensive scale.

The formation of the organisation has been mooted for some time,, chiefly by the Canterbury Suitf Association, but as yet the Taranaki clubs have received no official communications regarding the new body, says “Beltman.” , The. Canterbury Association circularised the Taranaki surf dubs individually at the end of last swimming season asking if they would be prepared, to support ,a ne*w organisation dealing solely with surf work, and although the clubs considered that slight changes in the methods of controlling surf Hfesavin<r competitions would be worth while? they had no definite grievances against the Royal Life-Saving. Society. It was felt that as Taranaki was more or less isolated. from the rest of the Dominion as far as surf work was concerned it would be advisable to remain with the recognised body., , ■ The account in the Dominion, and the telegraphed message that .appeatad in yesterday’s News' came as. comparative surprises to Taranaki life-saving officials, who are waiting - till further information is available before taking any action.