ROYAL LIFE SAYING SOCIETY.
- The first annual meeting of the Sumner branch of the Royal LifeSaving Society was held at the Sumner Town Hall last evening. The Mayor of Sumner (Mr H. J. Marriner) presided, and there was a large attendance, including a number cf visitors from Christchurch. In opening the proceedings Mr Marriner stated that the inception of the Sumner branch dated from the visit to the district two years ago, ol ; Mr W. Henry, general secretary of the Society. • Mr G. Laurenson, M.P., and Mr S. Hurst Seager wroto accepting positions as vice-presidents of the branchy and forwarding donations. Mr A. M'Kellar wrote on behalf of Mrs A. Tcwnend, expressing appreciation of the work of the Society and enclosing a donation of £2O fcr the erection of a pavilion. The report showed that there was now a membership of seventeen, and a small credit balance. Appreciative reference was mads to the work of Mr G. E. Billson, of the Christchurch municipal baths, and to the action of Mr Schwartz in saving lifo last gala day.
The election of officers resulted as follows Patron, Mr G. Humphries; president, Mr H. J. Marriner; vicepresidents, Messrs G. Laurenson, M.P.. J. W. Lill, S. Hurst Seager, G. W. Smithson, T. B. Bolton; chairman, Mr K. Bassett; vice-chairman, Mr F. Anderson; secretary, Mr R. A. Kerr; treasurer, Mr F. N. Keller: captain, Mr P. Schwartz; vice-captain, Mr W. Sears; instructors in Sivimming and life-saving, Messrs S. F. Iverr and N. R. Kerr; committee, Messrs A. C. Cuddy, W. Chapman, A. Osborne, H. Lindross, A. Cliristensen, J. Simpson and J. Peacock.
Pilot Day was elected an honorary lifo member of tho branch, tho resolution being carried with great enthusiasm.
Mr W. J. Johnstone, in a short address, complimented the Sumner branch on the rapid progress it had made during the two years of its existence. Ho also referred to the long and honourable career of Pilot Day, who, he said, had performed many heroic actions. The speaker ako briefly traced tho history of the Royal Life-caving Society since its inception in London in 1891, saying that no organisation could have a nobler object that that of the Society—the saving of human life. In the year following the initiation of the Society, 1892, it had made eightysix awards, while in 1911 the number was 12,7513. During their first year of existence as a society in Christchurch. thero had been ninety-eight awards, a very creditable record. Mr P. J. Agar moved the following resolution : " That we, tho citizens of Sumner, desire to bring before the Government the necessity of having the subject of life-saving taught in all the public schools, making it a compulsory subject, so that there may be less loss of life." The resolution was carried unanimously, and it was decided to forward a copy to the Premier and the members of Parliament.
Air J. A. Clark .spoke briefly on the aims and objects of the Society, giving various illustrations of tho value of tho work done.
Mr Billson, of tho Christchurch Municipal Bath, assisted by a number of pupils, then gave a demonstration in life-saving and resuscitation, which proved extremely interesting. Mr John Basset, chairman of the Sumner branch, also made a few remarks upon the progress of the branch, lie thanked the mayor and borough council for the assistance they had lendered to the Society and moved a voto of thanks to the Mayor for having presided at tho gathering. The resolution was carried unanimously. Musical items were given during the evening by Mestlames Tnit and Lavie, Miss Pratt and Messrs Gibson, Maloney and CargiM. As the result- of a collection tho sum of £5 was handed in : and twenty-five person.-; signified their intention of becoming members of the .Society.
ROYAL LIFE SAYING SOCIETY.
Star (Christchurch), Issue 10631, 29 November 1912, Page 1
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