NEW SCHOOL BATHS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21082, 8 April 1940, Page 6

NEW SCHOOL BATHS

OPENING AT TAUPIRI VALUE OF SWIMMING The new baths at the Taupiri School were officially opened on Saturday afternoon by Mr C. A. Barrell, M.P. for Hamilton. He performed the ceremony in the absence of the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, who was detained in Wellington at the weekend. The chairman of the school committee, Mr W. B. Cumming, expressed the committee’s appreciation of the work done by the secretary, Mr T. Reekie, toward securing baths for the school. He also referred to the valuable assistance given to the committee by the Hon. W. Lee Martin, member for the district, and the Government. Mr Barrell congratulated the committee on having provided swimming facilities for the children of the district. He said swimming was an excellent sport for physical development and cleanliness and as a means of preserving life. Since the Government had given assistance to school committees to teach swimming, the loss of life from drowning had fallen from 170 to 100 persons a year. Last year 30,000 school children were taught to swim. The Taupiri school committee, added Mr Barrell, and others doing similar work in providing facilities for tuition in swimming, were deserving of the country’s appreciation. It was of benefit not only to the children of today, but also to posterity. There was a large attendance at the ceremony. Several apologies, including those from the Hon. W. Lee Martin and members of the Education Board, were received.