SWIMMING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 277, 27 November 1935, Page 4

SWIMMING

-B V

“Freestyle."

Another week of the all-too-short season has slipped, by, and still there has been little activity in Wanganui circles. It is understood that a further meeting of the executive of the Wanganui Centre will be held next week. The election activities appear to have caused a temporary cessation. When so much must be done to ensure the success of the season, it would be well if the executive committee were to set the pace and initiate some of the, activities which the clubs should follow. The Wanganui East Swimming Club has had its membership considerably increased since it commerced activities. No doubt the opening day’s display has drawn attention to the goahead policy adopted by the Wanganui East committee. The Gonville Swimming Club commenced competitive swimming last ’Thursday, when several events were decided. Members turned out in good numbers in spite of the fact that the water was rather chilly. Still, it’s better to have started under such conditions than never to have started at all. • • • • Owing to the weather conditions proving so unfavourable last Wednesday night the Wanganui Central Swimming Club committee decided not 'to hold the suggested opening club night. They will, it is understood, have the opening splash next week. In addition. they propose to hold a novelty carnival in the near future. The Aramoho Club, It is reported, has a strong membership. It will be interesting to note whether they will strengthen the interclub competition which will be a feature of swimming activities later in the season. * The season has commenced at Marton, inspired perhaps by a correspondent in the “Chronicle,” but perhaps it was unfortunate that the weather conditions were sb unfavourable over the week-end, for the “takings” were not encouraging. However, the Marton Club members are an energetic crowd and it may be expected that thev will cause swimming to boom again in Marton. Situated as they are in a locality ; where cold weather conditions enforce a late start of the season, Taihape swimmers have not as yet been able to get in much work, but once they get going they will make their presence felt. So far the writer has not received a report of Raetihi activities, hut usually this club has a strong committee behind it, and if thev get going bv the first week in December they should be able to look forward to a successful season. Judging by the result of their organising activities, thp Hunterville Club is one of the most energetic in the district. The committee responsible for its inception have been behind the move for the installation of up-to-date, baths at Hunterville. and these are a credit to Hie organisation. Tt Is understood that an invitation will be extended to the Wanganui Centre to be represented at the opening ceremony in connection with the new Hunterville baths, and it is possible that the Wanganui clubs will send a strong team through to assist their sister chib. It is likely r hat the Surf Section will also provide a lifesaving squad to give a demonstration if this opening is held on a Saturday. So far little appears to have been done in connection with the. siiggested “ Lcarn-to-Swim ” Week which the Wanganui Centre proposes to run. If this is to be held in December, which would be the ideal period, some organisation will have to be set up immediately. It should be possible to obtain sufficient competent instructors to permit of a large number of beginners to obtain a good grounding in the art of swimming. This is of such vital importance to clubs that they should move in the matter. At the annual meeting of delegates to the Manawatu Centre, a proposal to shift the centre headquarters from Feilding to Palmerston North was supported only by the mover. It was pointed out that the centre’s chief source of revenue was from carnivals which were much better supported in Feilding than in Palmerston North. It was agreed, however, On the suggestion of the Feilding delegates, that the executive should meet in Palmerston North instead of Feilding. Evidence of the value that is placed on the encouragement of life-saving is provided by the announcement that the Manawatu Centre has donated £2 2s to the Life-saving Society in that centre. The Manawatu Swimming Centre also decided to urge on clubs the necessity of encouraging activity of this kind. In Wanganui, it may be noted, close co-operation has always been observed between the swimming centre and the life-saving authorities, and this has always been to their mutual benefit. Although losing as chairman a capable officer in Mr IL M. Sheffield, who did not seek re-election, the Auckland Swimming Centre has gained a worthy successor in Mr T. C. Hobbs-

.Tones/ Mr Sheffield held office for five VfearSj and during his term earned respect for the efficiency with wihich he performed his duties, which were often

made more onerous by the expression of keen club rivalry. Mr Hobbs-Jones returns to a formorly held from 1926 to 1927. A member of the North Shore Club, he was for several years secretary and treasurer of the Napier Club and the Hawke’s Bay Centre, and later a member of the Wellington Centre. Whjle employed with the Post and Telegraph Department in Christchurch, he was vice-president of the Opawa Chib, and for two years the Smithland Centre’s delegate to the f'ew Zealand Council. Life-saving also interests him. He was vice-president of

the Lyall Bay Surf Club and one of the founders in Napier of the first lifesaving club in New Zealand. He accompanied the late Mr William Henry, of London, the general secretary of the Royal Life-saving Society, when Mr Henry gave demonstrations of life-sav-ing methods in Hawke’s Bay.