LEARN TO SWIM.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 8 December 1937, Page 4

LEARN TO SWIM.

The movement which is on foot to each everyone, to swim should find the warmest approval among the citizens of the Dominion. As we have stated on more than one occasion, knowing how to swim is one of the most valuable of human assets.. The instruction should cover every phase of swimming, the risks to avoid, how to contend against currents in river or sea, and how to resuscitate the apparently drowned. It is said, and very truly, too, that many experienced motor drivers, in a

spirit of over-confidence, take risks on the road which often end in disaster. same applies to expert swimmers. Even with the best swimmer no carelessness can be indulged in, and the motto of every swimmer should be, “Play safe. ’ ’ The in the schools in Masterton are doing good work by giving instruction to the children under their charge in the art of swimming, but their efforts should be supplemented by instructors provided by the Government, so that lessons on the lines we have indicated could be given. Reasonably-sized classes should be taken in hand, so that the instruction can be as complete as possible at the baths and in the school. The school teachers in Masterton realise probably more than the average citizen the need for both children and adults to be taught to swim, and in view of the ‘ ‘ learn to swim campaign’ ’ they will doubtless further extend their operations to an even more thorouyh distribution of knowledge, even I though it imposes greater calls upon their already busy school time.