The Te Puke Times TUESDAY, FEB, 7, 1928

Te Puke Times, 7 February 1928, Page 2

The Te Puke Times TUESDAY, FEB, 7, 1928

A FURTHER effort is, we believe, to be made by Mr R. Urquhart to arouse interest amongst parents in his proposal to teach schoolchildren the art of swimming. The scanty support accorded the movement prior to the holidays made it appear as if parents did not realise the importance of Mr 4 Urquhart’s offer, but the numerous drowning accidents recorded during the festive season (many being directly due to the fact that the victims were unable to swim) must surely convince all of the necessity of children, both boys and girls, haying a knowledge of the natatorial art. As an exchange recently pointed out, the majority of the fatalities recorded occur in rivers and creeks in country district, and not at the seaside where there is' usually so large a concourse of adults that the juveniles are practically under observance the whole time. But in the country children wander off to have a dip in the nearest water-course without anyone to supervise them, and very often the first knowlodgo that parents" obtain of their whereabouts is in the nature of a tragic announcement. Very many of the unfortunate drowning accidents that are recorded through the press from time to time could have been averted had the bathers known how to swim. It is to be hoped therefore that parents will, on behalf of their children, avail themselves of Mr Urquhart’s generous offer.