LIFE-SAVING INTEREST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 63, 17 March 1943, Page 4

LIFE-SAVING INTEREST

VISITOR TO WANGANUI ?Aii interesting visitor to Wanganui in the cause of life-saving during the week-end was Mr. G. E. Billson, of Christchurch, who will leave to-day on his return to Christchurch. On Monday night he had a conference with members of the Wanganui branch of the Royal Life-Saving Society, and yesterday he met Mr. D. R. Robbins, patron of the Wanganui branch, as well as paying a visit to the Gonville School. Mr. Billson’s association with lifesaving in New Zealand dates back to the earliest days of life-saving here. He was first interested in 1903, and he has been a member of the New Zealand Council since 1910, about the same time as the Wanganui branch was formed. He has for many years been the Wanganui branch delegate on the N.Z. Council, and in addition to being a past-president of the Council he is a vice-president of the Central Executive, London. He holds the hignest award of the society, the diploma. Mr. Billson visited England and Canada in 1939, just before the outbreak of the present war.

On Monday night Mr. Billson discussed with members of the Wanganui branch matters with the work and gave an interesting talk on his travels.

Yesterday, accompanied by Mr. E. F. Hemingway, chairman of the Education Board, Mr. J. C. Batt and Mr.-. A. Lockett, of the Gonville School Committee, and Mr. W. B. Broadhead, hon secretary of the Wanganui bianch, Mr. Billson visited the GcnviEe School and presented the shields recently won by the school teams. He also addressed the children on swimming and life-saving.