BEACH PATROLS HARD TO GET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18959, 3 January 1930, Page 8

BEACH PATROLS HARD TO GET.

AMATEUR LAW IS BAR TO SWIMMERS. Considerable difficulty is being experienced by the Canterbury Surf Association in securing the services of suitable men to undertake the duties of patrols on the surf beaches. Last season patrols were maintained on the principal beaches throughout the bathing season, but so far this season it has been found impossible to make suitable arrangements. A patrol has been found for North Beach, and over the Christmas holidays Messrs C. Cauldwell and J. Breward acted in temporary capacities at New Brighton and Sumner respectively. Their periods of service terminated yesterday, so that at the present time these beaches are without patrols. The necessity for beach patrols was demonstrated by the good work these men did last season, and was emphasised only a few days ago when Cauldwell carried out a very meritorious rescue at New Brighton. The Amateur Law. One of the main difficulties in the way of finding suitable beach patrols is the fact that most of the men who are competent to undertake this work are amateur swimmers, to whom the acceptance of a position as paid beach patrols means a forfeiture of amateur status. The secretary of the Surf Association stated this morning that but for this fact one or two good swimmers who are now out of work would be prepared to accept positions on the beaches until they were able to find employment again. During the last Olympic Games the congress of the International Swimming Federation definitely ruled that amateur swimmers forfeited their amateur status, a ruling by which New Zealand, in common with the other affiliated nations, is bound. The New Zealand Association ruled that amateurs losing their status in this way were not eligible to apply for reinstatement until the expiration of two years from the date of the offence. Even then the reinstatement would not become operative until six months from the date of granting. The effect, therefore, is that a beach patrol has to stand down for three seasons before he can rejoin the amateur ranks. Australian Practice. When the Surf Association learned from the New Zealand Swimming Association of this ruling it made inquiries in Australia with a view to finding out what the practice was there. It was ascertained that the swimming authorities in the Commonwealth treated this breach of the amateur law as purely nominal, and that reinstatement could be secured after a lapse of a month. In an effort to clear up the position and arrive at some uniform policy the New Zealand Association submitted the matter to the secretary of the International Federation. A Thunderbolt. The reply of that official was somewhat startling, and had the effect of making the finding of beach patrols a very difficult task. He stated that the ruling of the New Zealand Association was correct so far as it went, but pointed out that provision for reinstatement was in conflict with the federation laws and should not exist in the laws of affiliated nations.

This communication created something of a sensation in surfing circles, for it meant that if the New Zealand Swimming Association acted on the hint so plainly given by the secretary of the federation it would delete from its books the provision that now exists for reinstatement, and that a man who became a professional would never regain his amateur status. Seeking a Direction. The attitude of the Swimming Association has been all through one of warm sympathy with the Surf Association, and it has been desirous of helping the latter body so far as its rules would permit. The letter of the federation’s secretary was referred by the Swimming Council to its Rules Committee, with a view to ascertaining whether any way out of the difficulty could be found. The report of the committee was not cheering. It was that New Zealand, as a nation affiliated with the federation, was bound by the laws of the international body, and that steps should therefore be taken to delete the provision for reinstatement from the association’s rules. The Swimming Association has taken no further steps in the meantime, but is communicating with the federation asking for a definite direction in the matter. Meantime amateur swimmers in New Zealand are looking askance at beach patrol positions. They have the certain knowledge that acceptance of such employment means loss of status for three seasons, with the possibility of early action being taken to make reinstatement impossible. The Surf Association is thus limited in its choice to swimmers who are already professionals or those who regard their amateur status lightly. The former are few in number, and, for the most part, already fully occupied. The latter are a doubtful quantity from the viewpoint of ability. It is essential that a beach patrol should be a highly expert surf swimmer, and the Surf Association cannot afford to risk a calamity of appointing anybody but a man of proved ability. The Financial Side.

If it is possible for the Surf Association to overcome this major difficulty, it still has financial troubles to bother it. Its ordinary sources of finance are very meagre, and quite inadequate for the provision of beach patrols. Grants by the City Council and other local bodies provide a portion of the money needed to pay the patrols, and the income thus received is augmented by a street collection. This collection will be made on Wednesday next, and it is hoped to raise sufficient funds to cover the cost of the beach patrols for the season.