BEACH PATROLS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16725, 7 January 1920, Page 6

BEACH PATROLS.

A STEP FORWARD. j Another step forward in tho more- J mont to have official ;ksic:> patrol? ap-1 pointed for the protection of bathers r.n Sumner and Now Bnghtoo beaches was taken yesterday, when the Mayor. !lh\ Thacher. M.lV' cr-nfenvd with representatives of the Life-saving and >ar!-bathing (Tubs ami the li y:i 1 Lite- ; saving S;>:nty. Apologio> , T°~ • tv:v*d f<r tlie absence ot Mr I-. kibblewhite, Mayor ot New mig.iuui, aiul several others. , In response to the to'.e grant wnteh the 1 Mayer recently sent to mo Prune Minister in the m uter 01 obtaining Government assistance in the apjH.niitmor.t of IvNicii pat:uls, a telegram was received from Sir Francis 11011. Minister t>f Internal Alfairs, asking what class c I ollicial patrols were reoouunendod and what financial a.-s'.stanco, approximately, was required from the Government. Mr lv. Dassett. chairman of tho Ciirivtchurch branch <:t the Royal Lifesaving Society, submitted the tollowing recommendations: — '.-) I'utro! wanted d'.uins lathing r<vu*on cr.iy. to bo stationed in fiich a position ?_•» to bc&t eupcrviso and control turf v. he a same ap;»:\»:\s to bv dar.Erermin. (b) To In; paid by iho authority, under who»e coal;nl ho wouhl be: the Government to bo to Ht;b«i4if-> his sala.y v.hiie employe.! m .1 beach petrel. (o> Duiutt'to be s;wi:ied bv aforerafj authority, ur I ; incluie \-) fi luirdir.jT t-"." f..itVtv ot baiher«, (2) }<upor.'i;t!.o cencr.d condnct of bather.* and others ufir.'j ti.e beach ur.d foreshores, Ik> nvp.iru-llile i t tho upkeep of ail 1::\>-g.iv i:i£ gear «nd equipment on eame, ant where no xepilar curetl. Ir-T employe;!, to keep clean and ta.se cha'-ije of municipal bathing tlieds and shelters on tho beaches. (•J) Uracil patrol to havo airthority o<pjal to a policeman, t-o be authorised to order bathers from apparently dangerous water to a position of eaiety. To place bathing area si-nals on beaehc-j where euriins is 6T.fcst, and to move same as bccomcs to put up danger flars when surf ia particularly unsafe, to be an eluci-nt fu:{ swimmer, and well versed in life-saving inc'.hoJs of rescue, release-, ar.d the SchofTer methn.U of resuscitation und restoration of circulation. | Mr Bassett also suggested tli.it, whero tho boaeh patrol was a married man he could add to his salary by acting as caretaker of the boaeh bathing sheds, iiirinjz out costumes, towe'.s, etc., giving sv. imming and surfing lessons, while his wife could do the washing out of costumes, etc.. and possibly run a refreshment booth, besides attending to. the lady swimmers' comfort generally. l>uring dull -weather, when there "was not much bathing going on, or when there was very little sea on, the l>each patrol would be ;:h!e to go gardening similar work in the near vicinity. Notices should lio put un ordering visiting bathers to bathe between tho "safe area" posts erected by tho patrol, and warned that while h-alp would bo available in case of need, no legal responsibility would ho taken, and that swimmers must be careful not to go out of j their depth in an ebb tide, jiarticularly I when a nor'-wester was blowing.

It was the general opinion that there should bn three patrols, one cacli for the North Beach, New Brighton, and Sumner beaches.

The Mayor considered that the City Council and the Tramjvny Bnard should bo the controlling authorities, as the protection was required not so much for tlio resident* at the soasido reports as for the visitors from Cliristchurch and elsewhere.

After further discussion, tlio following telegram wns drawn \in to be sent to tlio Acting-Minister of Internal Affairs:—"Your telegram ro bench patrols received. "Would recommend appointment of professional patrolmen who nro exT>ert swimmers ana life-savers, with polico authority whilo on ltonch. Salary, sti3*, £5 por week for two coming months or balance of present bathing season. To he controlled by local authority. Policemen, married, known to lx> expert swimmers and life-savers, would be preferred if availnblo nt once. Wo ask you to subsidise at least £ for £ up to £7o for this bnthing season. Should you agree, ldndly authoriso mo to act at once."