MEDALS FOR LIFE-SAVING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1655, 23 January 1913, Page 5

MEDALS FOR LIFE-SAVING.

■y ;■ - : --—.-». ■ —-"/■•' A; CRITICISED AWARD. ; v Br Teleeranli-Press Assoclation-OoDyricht ■~'■'■'■ (Rec. January 22, 10.50 p.m.) ■ - ■'. Sydnoy, January 22., ; A cablegram reports that adverse comment has been made in New Zealand on the action of the Royal Humano Society in awarding medals to. Solomons and Hay for their attempted \ rescue (f a bather at Sumner. ...It is stated that it is complained that, ; all- Solomons did was to act as first man in a life-saving team which'went to the rescue, arid which Was unsuccessful. ■ ~,.■'_■■ . .'■ -.'Solomons! explains that the announcement in the published cable 'message was" the first he'knew of tho awards. The r,escue was attempted under trying, circumstances. The team '.was about to give an exhibition of life-saving near the pier .'on' the- beach when an.alarm was given, and tho wholo' team raced nlcng tho sand,' six or seven hundred yards. Then Solomons went' out. The ..sea was exceedingly rough, and the swimmers were a long way from the shore, when the man disappeared before he could be reached.'- :.-:■' -.-.'v.. ■ '..Solomons said he was surprised at'the reported .attitude'in. New Zealand, be;cause the papers at the time were-full Jcjf Jtllo. attempted rescue/and compliinerifed the:life-savers' on their plucky' efforts, while tho Mayor, of, Christchurch visited the baths, and .thanked the Sydney men. for their ; elTorts. ;. ,V: !