SURF WORK CONTROL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 117, 20 May 1932, Page 8

SURF WORK CONTROL

ASSOCIATION SUGGESTED WANGANUI VIEWS NO change desired Suggestions from the Christchurch Su.l’ Association that the Surf Section of the Wanganui Head Centre of the Royal Life-Saving Society should join in a movement for the establishment of, a New Zealand Surf Association were l nv t night turned down unanimously by a meeting of tho Wanganui governing body. It was pointed out that the surf work was advanced life saving, and that in Wanganui the two bodies, one for still water work in the first place, and the >ther for tho more difficult sur.' operation were working smoothly and there was no call for change. The suggestion was that there . ..ould bo formed a surf association for the Dominion, to have complete control of surf work and competitions. For 15 years there had been a surf association in Christchurch, and there were eight clubs under the control of that association.

Stating that the matter had already bee. dealt with in the press, -Do chairman, Mr. F. K. Turnbull, reminded those present that the matter had come before them two meetings previously. He was of the opinion that, it would be a great pity to break a,way from the Royal Life-Saving Society as it was at present constituted. He thought they had followed the right course in Wanganui. The members of tho surf section should have some grounding in life snving work before they graduated to the surf section. About five years ago it had looked as if both bodies in Wanganui might hav - gone out of existence. The two , bodies had amalgamated, a'd he thought, as he believed the rest of the meeting thought, that in so doing, and bringing the control under one head, they had done the right thing. It was right that there should be elementary work for the surf section, and then when the standard had been reached, that any should bo able to join the i higher body. Personally, he thought thrt there should not be a member of tho surf section who had not his bronze medallion.

Mr. C. S. Swan, secretary, said that tho amalgamation had come about in 1924. Both bodies would have died but for that. Since then thov had been quite a progressive body, and had done good work in both the surf and still water sections. The views of tho chairman had been endorsed by the members of the surf section, when the suggestion had been brought before them, said Mr. E. Gilberd. As far as the Wanganui Surf Section was concerned, they had no intention of breaking away from the present agreement. He was of tho opinion that the schools would suffer. As far as he could see. the same mon would be running both bodies. He pointed out that such 1 - hies as tho Nelson Shield had been given to tho Royal Life-Saving Sociotv. and if the now order camo into being, then those trophies would have 4 o be handed over to the Surf Association.

“It would bo a groat ] ity if the two branches broke apart,” remarked Mr. R. Tilley. “We are fortunate in Wanganui—they aro both working together,” said Mr. T. Anderson.

Methods of running competitions by the. proposed surf association came in for some comment, the view being oxpressed bv the chairman that they would be more in the nature of alarm competitions than nnvthinr else, fhc value of tho knowledge of land work had been shown in one case chore a surf man, who had brought in a pnticn' and had boon too exhausted to nttond tn the patient on tho hooch, had boon aided bv another person who had gained tho knowledge morolv. from seeing tho land dr’” carried out in competitions. If that one life had boon saved, then the drill was worth, while. Bv unanimous vote tho oxoeuti.vo do naled that its o; ; ’o>t was that it w-.s not in favour of amalgamating or affiliating with a. surf association, and it also resolved to adhere to tho affllia tion with tho Royal Life-Saving Sociotv. thus carrying on ns before.