LIFE SAVING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20027, 7 February 1935, Page 14

LIFE SAVING

HIGH STANDARD IN DOMINION ENGLISH VISITOR PLEASED “The main aim of the Royal LifeSaving Society is to assist in making the youth of to-day the men and women of to-morrow. So far as New Zealand is concerned you have definitely put that aim into practice.” In these words Mr J. C. Fishenden of England, a vice-president , of the Royal Life-saving Society and an exchairman of the London headquarters of the Society described to a representative of “The Timaru Herald” yesterday his impressions of the development of life-saving in the Dominion. Mr Fishenden. who is accompanied on his tour of New Zealand by Mr Geo. Billson, chairman of the New Zealand Council of the Royal Life Saving Society, explained that he had heard such glowing reports concerning the art of life saving in New Zealand that he thought a visit to this country might be productive of benefit to the Homeland. So far as surf work was concerned there was certainly plenty to be learned in New Zealand, and it was his intention on returning to England to endeavour to encourage the New Zealand methods on the English beaches. “I thought that it was no use listening to a lot of talk about New Zealand so I decided to come out and have a look for myself,” said Mr Fishenden. “I have been agreeably surprised at what I have seen. You certainly make use of your boys and girls more than we do. They are taught swimming thoroughly and any weedy boys and girls are bronzed men and women in a few years.’ Boys and girls who were taught life-saving could go to the beaches and enjoy themselves and at the same time prove of great benefit should their services be required. The training gave them great confidence, and with the growth of the art safety on the beaches was increased. Mr Fishenden said that in England a great deal was done in still water, and special attention was paid to tuition in schools and colleges. They did not have the gear for the surf work, but he hoped that in the future big strides would be made in this department. “I was very pleased with the display of life-saving I saw at the Timaru Girls High School,’ said Mr Fishenden. “The standard was outstanding, especially as school girls indulge in so much other sport. They gave me a display which was very fine, and if I find the same standard in other schools in the Dominion it will indeed be very pleasing. He’ paid tribute to the fine work of Miss Audrey Holdgate. the Society’s representative in Timaru, who, he said, held the highest diploma of the Society.