APPEAL FOR FUNDS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1935, Page 4

APPEAL FOR FUNDS

PUBLIC SERVICE ORGANISATIONS. ST. JOHN AND LIFE-SAVING. The annual street collection and joint house-to-house appeal of the St. John Ambulance Association and the Taranaki centres of the Royal Life-Saving Society and the Surf Association will be held at New Plymouth to-day. All three organisations depend on the public to a large extent for their funds. Their work is of a nature that would be very conspicuous if absent. It Is almost impossible to go to any large sports gathering in North Taranaki without seeing the uniform of the St. John Ambulance Association officers. At football matches there is recognition of the aid their services can give. The upkeep of uniforms, outfits, rooms and organisation requires constant expenditure and the officers who give up their time patiently can hardly be expected to pay it out of their own pockets.

Two or three years ago surf lifesaving competitions drew a crowd of 2000 people to Opunake beach, and a collection box passed round yielded 4s lid. Huge crowds attend surf displays but the result with the collection box is usually meagre. Neither the Life-Saving Society nor the Surf Association can make any charge for its displays without great difficulty and the work of both is of equal importance. The Life-Saving Society is responsible for the teaching in schools of the rudiments of life-saving and the Surf Association controls the work on beaches. Surf club members do their work voluntarily and maintain a high degree of efficiency. Nearly 30 people have been rescued from various Taranaki beaches this summer. To be efficient life-savers should have efficient gear to. operate with, and reels, belts and lines are expensive.

In most cases of fire a donation In guineas is made to the fire brigade. Yet 23 people were helped from situations in which their lives were in danger at Fitzroy beach on Sunday and one 5s donation was received—2.6d per life. This has been the most popular season for swimming yet experienced in Taranaki and the record of rescues performed is probably the best in New Zealand. Wear and tear on reels is great and such gear cannot be kept locked up, with the result that vandalism is constantly occurring. A committee of the three organisations has divided the town into blocks for a house-to-house canvass, collectors will patrol the main streets and a mart will be held.