BIRTH OF NEW BODY

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1935, Page 9

BIRTH OF NEW BODY

CONTROL OF SURF WORK FOLLOWING AUSTRALIAN GUIDE. INITIATION- BY CANTERBURY. \■ ■ • In 1932 it was obvious to a great number of the administrators of surf lifesaving throughout New Zealand that the Royal Life-Saving Society, by virtue of its large ramifications, could not adequately control both the still water lifesaving and surf life-saving. This fact was also appreciated by the New Zealand Council of the Royal Life-Saving Society in Christchurch, and an invitation was issued by that council for representatives of life-saving clubs from Wellington to go to Christchurch to discuss the formation of a separate body to control the activities of life-saving on surf beaches. A meeting was held in Wellington and Messrs. P. F. Coira and F. Chapman journeyed to Christchurch, and the New Zealand Council outlined proposals by which the control of surf life-saving should pass to a separate body which would take complete charge of it throughout New Zealand and work solely on the phase of life-saving dealing with surf clubs and patrolling of beaches. It was agreed to grant full powers to the new body of the control of National Championships and Life-Saving generally in the Dominion, such power not to be varied without one year’s notice. Immediately on the return to Wellington a meeting was called and the New Zealand Surf Life-Saving. Association was bom. The life-savers present at that meeting were:—Messrs. F. Chapman, (in the chair), E. Hughes, J. Alexander, W. Gerrie, V. Allan, P. Coira, H. Dickson and D. Hunter. It was decided at once to ask for the co-operation of all the centres in New Zealand and it was obvious from the response received from all centres that such a step was taken at the right time. In 1932 the only organisation which functioned purely as a surf life-saving association was in Canterbury, and this association had done magnificent work for some twenty years, and had organised life-saving in the Canterbury dis-, trict into a highly efficient body not only patrolling all the popular beaches by voluntary teams at the week-end, but also financing paid patrols during those times when the life-saving teams were not in attendance. This body could not, of course, immediately affiliate with the

new national body before exhaustive inquiries into its constitution had been made, but it is a fine tribute to its sportsmanship and far seeing vision that it did during the following year affiliate with the new national body, adding to it the weight of twenty years’ traditions. and experience and a fine record of achievement.

The Surf Life-Saving Association functions as a part of the Royal Life-Saving Society and the whole of the life-saving work of the Dominion, both still water and surf, has now been united in one happy family, and some idea of the wisdom of the step can be gained, from the fact that since the formation of the new body no fewer than 15 active and efficient clubs have been formed.

At the present time all the centres in New Zealand are affiliated with the New Zealand Surf Life-Saving Association, which has received recognition from the Government in the shape of two grants of £lOO from the proceeds of art unions. It is hoped shortly that some recognition, particularly in the way of cash, will be granted to the association so that the work of installing life-saving apparatus on all the popular beaches will be made possible. A particularly pleasing feature is that most cordial relations and cooperation have been maintained with the Royal Life-Saving Society in New Zealand.