SWIMMING SEASON REVIEWED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23322, 4 October 1945, Page 7

SWIMMING SEASON REVIEWED

Progress In Teaching Children Election Of Officers Prospects for the coming season were exceedingly bright. Clubs and the Centre would be strengthened by returned men who had gained valuable experience overseas, said the president of the South Canterbury Swimming Centre (Mr H. H. Fraser) at the annual meeting last evening. The war years had been lean ones for sport and swimming, in common with the rest, had experienced difficult times. Now that the war was won they could look forward to a revival which had been indicated last season by an increase of interest by the public and competitors. The Temuka Club had been resuscitated last year alter having gone into recess because of the demands of the war on members. The three town clubs had held carnivals and they had been eminently successful, as also had been the championship carnival. This season it was hoped that Geraldine and Waimate would endeavour to hold carnivals and by so doing reawaken interest in their districts.

Mr Fraser paid a tribute to the coaching of Miss D. Brown, of Christchurch, who had demonstrated the McCabe method of swimming. Bad weather had interfered with her programme, and she did not have sufficient opportunity to gain the desired results. Miss Brown would give further demonstrations this season. If school teachers were taught the Mc-

Cabe method there was a likelihood of every pupil being taught to swim. He would like to see swimming made a compulsory sport in schools for pupils in the fourth standard and above. Incentive to Swimmers The New Zealand championships would be held this season, and they should be an incentive to senior swimmers to train assiduously. Last season Miss Smith had performed with credit in the backstroke and breaststroke events, as also had the other two junior representatives. It had been mooted that certificates instead of medals be given for New Zealand championships. The idea had been sponsored by Mr D. Lindsay, who had been a champion, and the Centre should give him its support. Since a few clubs had not had the opportunity of discussing the remit from the West End Club, “that all clubs be levied to provide funds for sending swimmers to the New Zealand championships,” it was agreed to leave the discussion to a later meeting. It was also decided to embody in the remit the suggestion by Mr H. ‘Cornwell that the basis of the levy be one-third each on the Centre, the club and the individual representative. Mrs W. M. Beynon said that the South End Club had been advocating for a considerable time the construction of tepid baths in Timaru, and it now solicited the aid of the Centre. Mr A. F. S. Jones said that he agreed with the Mayor that until returned soldiers were rehabilitated matters like tepid baths would have to wait.

The Centre should ask for the support of the Caroline Bay Association, which had worked during the war years for patriotic purposes, but would soon be able to raise funds for otheipurposes, said Mr A. C. Rippin. It was agreed to send a letter to the Borough Council with a request that when a suitable war memorial was being discussed that the construction of tepid baths be considered. Copies of the letter are to be sent to the Caroline Bay Association and the Council of Sport.

Mr Fraser paid a tribute to the work of Mr Rippin, who resigned from the position of secretary. Mr Rippin had held the office for 12 years, during which time he had worked enthusiastically for the good of the sport. He had been an ecellent secretary and one who had played a worthy part in fostering the sport. Each of the members added their meed of praise. A tribute was also paid to the work of Mr J. c. Lewis as official starter and education officer. Mr Fraser was complimented by Mr Cornwell on his efforts to keep the sport alive while so many swimmers were serving overseas. Election of Officers The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Mr H. H. Fraser; vice-president. Mi- A. C. Rippin; secretary, Air w. Anderson; auditor, Mr F. G. M. Raymond; executive, Messrs S. H. Sullivan, W. Sutherland and A. Ball; local officer, Mr W. G. Hayward; educational officer, Mr H. Cornwell; official starter, Mr A. F. S. Jones; handicapper, Mr S. Crerar; assistant handicapper, Mr H. Cornwell: diving judges, Messrs Fraser, K. Moffat, S. B. Reid. H. Clark, E. Ramsay, A. C. Rippin, A. Ball, J. c. Lewis. P. Hilton, and Miss N. Woodward; diving handicappers, Messrs Ramsay and Ripnin; delegate to N.Z.A.S.A., Mr T. H. Langford; delegates to the South Canterbury Council of Sport, Messrs S H Sullivan and A. C. Rippin.