Surfers May Fix Uniform Warning

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30955, 11 January 1966, Page 1

Surfers May Fix Uniform Warning

New Zealand Press Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 10. The death off Oakura beach on Saturday from a shark attack was almost certain to force a New Zealand-wide, uniform shark warning alarm, the president and chief instructor of the Taranaki centre of the New Zealand Surf Life-saving Association (Mr J. E. Hatchwell) said in New Plymouth today. A series of 10-second siren blasts would be the most likely warning. Mr Hatchwell said that this or a similar warning would probably be fixed by a meeting of the council of the New Zealand association to be held in Wellington next week. No uniform shark-warning system had been established as small coastal settlements had opposed sirens being used for the purpose. It was considered the alarms would be ! continually confused with fire ; alarms, said Mr Hatchwell.

“I will be very surprised if the meeting doesn’t come up with one fixed alarm in view of Saturday’s tragedy." Taranaki surf clubs would be keeping week-end binocular watches, said Mr Hatchwell. He urged swimmers to keep between flagged patrolled areas.

If sharks were spotted, the shark alarm flag, with red and white quarters, would be raised. The warnings would be broadcast, and clubs would warn swimmers by any signals they had. Week-day surf patrols were not possible, he said, as surfers were at work. However, on city beaches, members often patrolled after work in the evening.