APPEAL ISSUED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 27, 3 February 1939, Page 6

APPEAL ISSUED

Co-operation Invited In Campaign SWIMMING INSTRUCTION’ NATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS “If its ambition to make every New Zealander a swimmer is to be attained, the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association must have the full cooperation of all parents and non-swim-mers,” said Mr. F. G. Dunn, of Christchurch, president of the association, in making an appeal for the public's co-operation in the national "learn-to-swim” campaign. “My association, therefore, appeals,” continued Mr. Dunn, to all those who cannot swim, or who have children who cannot swim, to make it their business to get in touch with the secretary of the nearest swimming club, so that arrangements may be made to provide the necessary instruction, which, of course, will be entirely free. Instructors have had explained to them by qualified coaches the simplified method of instruction, adopted for the purposes of the campaign. Finally, the association would point out that it is quite possible that valuable lives may be saved in the future by those taught in the present great effort." The national “learn-to-swim" campaign promoted by the New Zaeland Amateur Swimming Association in conjunction with the New Zealand Surf Life-saving Association and the Royal Life-saving Society has commenced in earnest. Throughout New Zealand, wherever suitable bathing facilities exist and swimming or lifesaving clubs operate, instruction will be given to children and adults by members of these clubs and other volunteers. So far as schools are concerned, swimming lessons will mainly be conducted by teachers.

The most extensive of its type yet held, the campaign has been supported by the Government through the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry. Hundreds of swimmers have volunteered their services as instructors, their eagerness to co-operate expressing the traditional alertness of swimming and life-saving clubs to safeguard human life. Nearly 400,000 pamphlets explaining the official method of instruction are being circulated, and films depicting this method are available for exhibition in schools. Arrangements have been made for education boards to distribute pamphlets to school children. Officials of the National Committee ot Swimming and Life-saving, which is organising the campaign, are confident that, provided the weather is favourable, the campaign will be exceedingly successful. The interest of surf life-savers in the campaign was expressed by the president of the New Zealand Surf Life-saving Association, Mr. P. Coira, of Wellington, who is also chairman of the National Committee of Swimming and Life-saving. “The surf clubs,” said Mr. Coira, "will do all in their power to fulfil the objects of the campaign. As chairman of the organising committee, I must comment on the wonderful spirit shown by swimmers and surfmen alike, and and by others who are assisting with instruction, especially in country districts. It is the duty of every nonswimmer to learn to swim during February. A special duty falls upon parents to encourage their children to take lessons.”