THE VALUE OF SWIMMING.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20013, 22 January 1935, Page 6

THE VALUE OF SWIMMING.

Having regard to the geographical position of New Zealand and the accessibility of the ocean and rivers which have claimed so many victims by drowning, it can be said without undue flattery that few organisations are more worthy of support than those that eh courage swimming. It is for this reason that we hope the swimming meeting now being held in Timaru will be generously supported by the public. From time immemorial the great usefulness of swimming has been universally acknowledged, and the ease with which the art of supporting the human body in water can be acquired, is a statement as old as the hills. The absolute correctness of the assertion that there is no difficulty in the way of the individual who would become a swimmer, is open to question, but it is certain that the number of those who surmount all obstacles grows larger year by year. This is due in no small measure to the greatly increased facilities for the pursuit of this most healthful and pleasurable pastime afforded by the erection of many additional and improved public baths; also to the extensive encouragement the sport receives from the numerous swimming organisations and the practical interest manifested by the public. No one can say with any degree of positiveness whether the modern swimmer can eclipse the speed of the Ancients. It is, however, interesting to mention that it Was in the seventies of the last century that J. Trudgen, returning to

England from South America introduced the stroke which was named after him.. But it is claimed by those who say they know that a stroke very similar to Trudgen’s was practised by the Assyrians more than two thousand years ago! It will be remembered that the first successful attempt to swim the English Channel was made by Captain Webb in 1875, who, using the breast-stroke,, crossed in 21 hours 45 minutes. Since that date, however, the Channel has been swum in 11 hours 5 minutes. It is only natural, therefore, that with the modern development of speedstrokes has come almost a plethora of record-breaking. The period since the war has seen new records for almost every recognised distance, both by men and women swimmers, but the most gratifying feature of all is the steady decrease in the number of deaths by drowning. The, New Zealand Official Year Boole says that a noticeable decrease is shown for deaths by drowning in New Zealand, the fatalities havingdecreased from ifi7 in 1923, and 144 in 1928. to 127 in 1933; the rate per million of mean population being 131 in 1923 and 87 last year. The encouragement of swimming in view of the longcoastline of New Zealand and the country’s numerous rivers and lakes, ought to be one that appeals to all sections of the community, and the added attraction which speed and grace give to exhibitions of this most useful and health giving pastime, will no doubt ensure the success of the New Zealand intermediate junior swimming championship meeting now being held in Timaru.