FINE GESTURE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 109, 21 February 1950, Page 2

FINE GESTURE

£IOO FOR LIFE-SAVING CLUBS ASHBURTON MAN’S GIFT A cheque for £IOO was last evening handed to the “Guardian” as a donation in aid of the life saving work of Surf Clubs in New Zealand and Australia. Mr H. Goldsmith, tho donor, is an Australian by birth, who has recently been employed by an Ashburton firm. Fie has had almost a' life-long interest in surf clubs’ work, and recounts with pride that his son, Mr H. G. Goldsmith, was recently'runner-up in the N.Z. beltman’s championship at Wellington. Mr Goldsmith, jnr„ was junior champion beltman in 193 G and senior in 1946. The immediate occasion of Mr Goldsmith’s call and generous gesture was the account in last, night’s “Guardian” of the latest drowning fatality, that of James Peryman, of the North Cronula Surf Club.

As Mr Goldsmith said, and indeed many others unhappily might say: “That might have been my son.” The money he designates “to buy equipment.”

The “Guardian” is forwarding the cheque to the headquarters of the N.Z. Surf Life-Saving Association, and it may be the means of inducing others to be equally generous in a worthy cause.

ROSS BELT COMPULSORY OUTCOME OF RECENT FATALITY (Rec. 12.15) SYDNEY, This Day. New Zealand-invented Ross safety belts will be compulsory equipment at all further surf carnivals as the result of a decision by the Surf Life-Saving Association of Australia following the drowning of James Peryman last Sunday • ' A closed inquiry will be held by the association into the circumstances of the tragedy. The association also ruled that the Ross belt be used for till surf bronze medalion examinations. The president of the association, Judge A. Curlewis, said that each club would need about five belts. He appealed urgently to Sydney manufacturers of the Ross belt for quick delivery of 500 belts.