SUMNER FATALITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10679, 28 January 1913, Page 2

SUMNER FATALITY.

TO TBB EWITOIt. | Sir, —I notice in the New Zealand papers many comments on the Royal Humane Society's award to Solomons and Hay, of Sydney, but I must congratulate /the writer of the article in yonr esteemed paper tins evening, as he has rightly touched the main points,' and as T have the Honour of holding tliG Society's 1 silver medal I; could not let this controversy go by without having something to say. In , the first place I think the executive of the Royal Humane Society should be abso-. lutely disgusted with itself in allowing the public to know how badly tho affairs of t}ie Society are carried out, that is, taking it for granted all other awards are ma do in the same manner. Tho idea of_a Society like the Royal Humane Society granting a gold and silver medal for an attemptedrescue like tho Sumner incident is_ absolutely absurd and displays gross ignorance on tho part of the executive,, and in my opinion, whilst the executive is in power, the public should see they do not subscribe towards the Christchurch branch. I was very pleased to hear ; that Harry Hay made it known he_ recognised he was not entitled to it, and I hope tp hear the same from Solomons, as they know that tho Royal Life Saving Society would not give a certificate for a case like that in Sydney, as it recognises it would be giving every Dick, Tom and Harry one, thereby making them very cheap. What kind of an executive has the Royal Humn.ne Society here, when it fives gold and silver medals where the Royal Life Saving Society will not give certificates? I am perfectly satisfied Solomons was tho most astonished man in Sydnev when ho heard of the award'. Of course, you must under- j stand T. do not wish to belittle the attempt, hut feel justified in commentins upon tho executive's action, and T tract tho awards will in future ho in keeping with the act, thereby not making the medals too cheap and worth having. ' Regarding the man in the belt, I quite agree with the writer of the article that he undoubtedly takes a great risk of being drowned through being hauled in (generally by tho crowd) too quickly, and has to get through tho rollers, which is very exhausting, and I mav add, when tho resetter goes out he is more confident when he knows the man in the belt is following him. In my minion the belt man' deserves as much, if not more, than the rescuer, and I can assure' yon it is a very nasty sensation beini pulled through the water at a fast rate. When you open yonr mouth to breathe you swallow half, as you imagine, the ocean, as I had the experience at Newcastle wlien with the jfnnlv Snrf Club, of which I was vicecaptain, when attempting: to rescue the crow of a fishing boat which had turned over.

lam writ'no: to the Royal Humn.ne Society in Svdney. giving it- particulars nnd asking what it thinks of this branch, arc! I sincerely trust the' executive" will in future make proper nwards, and not hejn.tle the Society in tho eyes of the public.—T am. etc.. A. M. TARTAKOVER. I Warner's Hotel, January 25.