SPLENDID BEACHES

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1934, Page 11

SPLENDID BEACHES

IMPRESSIONS OF. VISITOR /' life-saving organisation. COMPARISONS WITH ENGLAND. The beaches at New Plymouth and elsewhere in New Zealand have greatly impressed Mr. H. H. Lock, the chairman of the London central executive of the Royal Life-saving Society. Yesterday morning he inspected most of the New Plymouth beaches and the baths at the New Plymouth Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools. “Taranaki, in fact New Zealand as a whole, is much to be envied for its beautiful beaches and natural bathing facilities," stated Mr. Lock.. “Here splendid beaches appear to be the rule. In ... England they are the exception.. There only the very largest and most important schools have bathing facilities. Here even primary schools have baths of their own. It is no wonder that, with all these splendid' facilities available, swimming and surf bathing are such popular sports in New Zealand. “I have been especially, impressed with the strength and enthusiasm of the surf life-saving movement in- New Zealand. The necessity for some such movement in England is only and we are particularly anxious to study Australian and New Zealand methods since you are the recognised leaders in this sphere of activity. Before returning home I hope to have acquired information that will be useful in building up such a movement there.” In England, explained Mr. Lock, there was an organisation called the LifeGuard Corps. The members came mostly from the inland districts, where they were trained in life-saving work. On going to the coastal areas they reported to the local centre and made up patrols for the beaches. This, of course, did not make for the same efficiency as when regular patrols were engaged, as in Australia and New Zealand. During the holiday season the populations of English seaside‘ resorts increased twenty-fold. It was impossible for lifesaving patrols to be organised from the residents since the numbers of visitors were too large to enable the residents to organise sufficient patrols. Consequently the scheme of organising patrols from the visitors themselves had to be resorted to. However, it was hoped to extend activities and to encourage a wider interest in England in surf" life-saving and in competitive work. The continued growth of the Royal Life-Saving Society was emphasised by Mr. Lock. Every effort was made, he said, to keep branches in touch with one another. For instances, branches in Canada and South Africa were acquainted with the good work being done ,in Taranaki. Canada and South Africa were both showing a growing interest in surf work and were anxious to learn something of Australian and New Zealand methods. ' -

Mr. Lock left New Plymouth yesterday afternoon for Wanganui. He will proceed thence to Wellington, having already visited Auckland, Napier, and Palmerston North. After visiting Christchurch and Dunedin in the South Island, Mr. Lock will leave about the end of the month for Australia, where he will remain until the New Year. It is possible that he will then return to New Zealand in time for the Dominion surf championships to be held at New Plymouth in February.