Seeking Uniform Shark Warning

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30954, 10 January 1966, Page 12

Seeking Uniform Shark Warning

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, January 9.

The National Water Safety Council will give priority to the establishment of a uniform shark-warning system at beaches throughout the country.

The chairman of the council, Mr E. C. Marris,. said tonight that the question had been considered by the organisation on a number of occasions during the last 18 months.

“But the difficulty has been to settle on a universal sys-

tern which is of practical value at most, if not all, beaches.” A number of suggestions had been put to the council. These included the use of gongs, as in Australia, sirens and even the firing of rifle shots. Objections had been lodged against each by people who felt they might not be practicable at some beaches. One objection to the use lof gongs had been that they i might not be heard at the extremities of some very long : beaches.

Sirens, it had been said, could cause confusion because of their use by police, firemen and ambulance drivers. “But in view of the accident at Oakura urgency has been added to the need to find a solution and the matter will certainly be discussed again at the next meeting of the council in February. Priority will be given to it.” National swimming, life-sav-ing and surfing associations, the Education Department and the Internal Affairs Department are represented on the council.