FACILITIES IN NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21420, 12 March 1935, Page 15

FACILITIES IN NEW ZEALAND

POOR DIVING BOARDS JUSTIFIABLE CRITICISM BY rOUSSARI) [By FREESTYLE.] The visiting Frenchmen, Jean Taris and Emile Poussard, fire such prominent figures in swimming and their experiences have been so varied, that their opinions of the sport in JNew Zealand arc as authoritative as any could be; and few will consider that their criticism of baths and diving boards in this country is unjustified. Both, it was reported yesterday, think that the baths are too shallow, while Poussard complained of the diving boards, which he described as "terrible." Poussard's criticism of the boards was not unexpected. The Australian diver, H. Tickle, who visited Otago and Canterbury in December, found the boards most unsatisfactory, and he could not see how the standard of diving in the country could be improved until something was done to provide boards that would help the diver. In Christchurch Tickle did not use the boards at. Ibe St. Albans bath, which were specially selected for the Dominion championship meeting in 1934, but these were used by Poussard on Sunday, and his remarks were made after lie had returned from that bath. Christchurch divers depend to a great extent 011 tiie Tepid Baths for their training, and while the facilities for swimmers there are as good as they are at any bath in New Zealand, the divers are given little encouragement by having to practise on boards that give them little assistance. Both Poussard and Tickle arc agreed about the low board at the Tepid Baths. When Tickle was asked how he liked the boards at the Tepid Baths, he smiled and said it was not worth comment. When Poussard first went to the Tepid Baths he dived once off the low board, said, "Impossible," in his own language, and added. "Not worth diving off." He found the top board an improvement, and it lias been since made better by a minor adjustment. Lack of finance has hampered the authorities in New Zealand, but there seems little reason why there should not be better boards at the Tepid Baths. The baths are controlled by the Christchurch City Council, and are becoming more widely patronised. It is certain that if good boards were provided there would bo a better response from the local divers, and one prominent official of the Canterbury Swimming Centre yesterday declared that the cost of new boards would soon be covered by the increased patronage from divers. Christchurch is not alone in being without good boards at its tepid bath. Auckland is in the same position, if not worse. At the recent Dominion championships, for example, the hi&hboarcf dives had to be held at one bath and the low-board dives at another. Officials sometimes complain that the public docs not lake the interest in swimming that the sport deserves. But the average person finds a great deal of enjoyment in watching a good exhibition of diving, and if the Canterbury Centre will make representations to the City Council to have the boards improved it will be taking as big a step as any towards increased public interest.