Dominion's Youth.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 19345, 28 February 1935, Page 3

Dominion's Youth.

HIGH PRAISE BY VISITOR. LIFE-SAVING DISPLAY. FINE BODY OF YOUNG MEN. "I have never seen such a fine body of young men as is assembled here to-day," said Mr. J. F. Fisheuden, vice-president of the Royal Life-Saving Society, London, interviewed at the Ngamotu Beach, New Plymouth, on Saturday, on the occasion of the Dominion surf life-sav-ing championships. Mr. Fishenden is touring Australia and New Zealand studying the surf life-saving movement with a view to its future development in England. "I have the profoundest admiration for the youth of this Dominion," said Mr. Fishenden. "Their physical development is something to be marvelled at and is much superior to that of young:;men and young • women at Home, ~ You New Zealanders do not fully realise how for- ■ tunate you are in having, for tho most part at any rate, comparatively easy access to beaches. lam convinced that swimming and surf bathing have assisted in a large measure in the fine physical development of your youth. It would not, I think, be possible to assemble a finer body of young men than those gathered here for the competitions to-day." An Excellent Carnival. Mr. Fishenden stated that he had seen beach carnivals on the Manly Beach, Sydney, and in Melbourne, but he considered that the spectacle at New Plymouth was finer than either. At its present rate of development there would soon bo little which New Zealand could learn from Australia about surf life-sav-ing competitions. "Endeavours are being made at Home under the direction of tho Royal Life-Saving Society to initiate a movement on much the samo lines as the surf life-saving movement in Australia and New Zealand," he continued. "A lifeguard corps has been formed with a membership of 5000. Most of the members live in inland towns, but they undertake patrol duties on theii' visits to the beaches. Of course, when it is realised that London is 50 miles away from the nearest beach and most other large cities similarly situated, it will be seen that we are labouring under difficulties in our endeavours to establish the surf life-saving movement in England. "Once established, ' however, wo believe that such a movement wouL have a tremendous popular appeal You have a crowd of nearly 10,00 on your beach here to-day to witness this display. Surely we at Home, with our much greater popu lation, could attract twice as manto witness such a demonstration." Addresses at Schools.

Apart from his interest in suvi work, Mr. Fishenden, who is accompanied on his New Zealand tour b Mr. G. E. Billson (Christchurch), president of the New Zealand brand; of the Royal Life- : Saving Socieh lias visited schools and colleges throughout the Dominion and has addressed upwards of 6000 children on the life-saving movement. He has been very impressed with the standard of life-saving work in New Zealand schools. This, he considers, is well up to Home standard.

Mr. Fishenden, who has been a member of the Central (London) executive of the Royal Life-Saving Society for many years, has visited 17 different countries in his search for information which will be of assistance to the movement.

"New Zealand should be very proud of the fact that it is so up-to-date in life-saving matters that a representative of the parent body, the Royal Life-Saving Society, has come out here to learn what ho can," said Mr. Fishenden. "My trip ha's been well worth-while and when I leave for England in a fortnight's time I will carry with mo helpful information as well as memories of the most spectacular and stirring surf life-saving demonstration I have even seen."