SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1889, 18 October 1913, Page 12

SWIMMING.

fßx "Splaah."]

ONB MAN ONE CLUB RULE. An Excellent Move. We havo not got swimming weather yet, but "Splash nevertheless thinks that the time is opportune—as our friends the politicians put it—wKen he should take out hiß swimming suit, as it were, dross himself, and plunge right into the sea of ourrent discussion on "one-man-one-club." Tho weather may be cold, but the sea of controversy ia warm enough. Some of the arguments in fact havo beon very hot ones.

I am entirely in favour of the cine-man-one-club system, which I honestly think is going to do something for the aport. Tho Wellington Club started the ball rolling, and it is regrettable that Swifts did not follow by adopting the proposal. At tho Swifts annual meeting, certain interesting and correct statements which wero made by the Wellington Club wero discredited. Of course, if the matter is going to causo any real ill-feeling, it would be much better to let it drop. At the same time it appears to the writer and to many other swimmers, whoso opinions ho regards as good, that the Swifts Club fears that if the scheme is adopted they may lose a number of members. Some Splaßhes at Swifts Meeting. It Ib interesting to note that whilst condemning the system, they affirmed the principle in a mild form by including tho following words on their nomination forma: —"I also declare that I will give preference to this club when competing in inter-club or championship ovents." Mr. F. Wilton, who condemned the proposal at the Swifts meeting, was reported to have said "that it was preferable by far to join more clubs than one, for tho reason 'that swimmers might go in for a swim whenever they wished, whereas if they belonged to one olub only they would not havo this opportunity. This statement is too amusing. A mon can go in for a Bwim where he likes irrespective of tho club that he belongs to. Well, who ,is going to deny tuatP No ono. Mr. Wilton, no doubt, had some other meaning in his mind, but it, is not for "Splash'' to put tho words into his mouth. Ho endeavoured to convince Swifts that tho system should not be countenanced. He rather failed, however, because tho clause mentioned above really affirms tho principle. Another contention of Mr. Wilton's was that the Bystom, if adopted, would tend to put this sport back. How so? Mr. Wilton may bo right when ho states that there are not 60 per cent, of competitive swimmers in Wellington, but that is solely due to tho present system—to the fact that a swimmer is allowed to join as many clubs as ho pleases. It all comes to this: A crack swimmer, at present, swims, and wins races for so many that in the end ono seos tho Bame winner or winners over and over again. The one-man-ono-club system would produce the competitive swimmers, and would introduce a healthv rivalry by concentrating each man s loyalty in his own club.

Tho V/orld'B Champion. Recently, Mr. J. Walter Doyle, of the Hawaiian Promotion Committee, visited Australia and Auckland, and made inquirioa into the' possibilities attaching to a visit to Australian and New Zealand of the world's champion omatour swimmer, Duko P. Kahanamoku. While in Sydney and Melbourne, Mr. Doyle met the swimming authorities thero, and discussed the matter with them, tho probabilities of the visit being enthusiastically receivedMr. Doyle also discussed the matter with the authorities of the Auckland contra of tho Now Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, who also expressed great satisfaction at the likelihood of the visit eventuating. It is estimated that tho visit would cost about £500, 'and the world's famous swimmer would appoar in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and the principal towns of Now Zoaland, bo that the financial aspect does not appear a very serious one. The Hawaiian people aro very keen on their world-beater making the trip, for they aro far-seeing enough to know that a tour by such a marvol as the Duke has proved himself to he gives their oountry a much bigger advertisetoeht than they could reasonably expect from other sources. Duke P. Kahanamoku was recently offored an enormous sum to turn professional, and tour the world under tho management of an American, but ho preferred to retain his amateur status. Ho is 22 years of ago, stands 6ft. 4in. in height, and weighs 18st. _ He early earned fame as a champion in his own country, but it was not until tho last Olympic Games that he got a chance to provo to tho world what a marvel he . was in tho water. Ho competed at tho Olympic Games, and oreated a sensation by swimimng tho final of the 100 metres event in lmin. 2 2-sseo., which lowered tho world's record of _ lmin. 2 4-ssec., made by C. M. Daniels, in 1910, in New York City. Ho was also a member of the American relay team that swam second to tho Australians in tho 800 metres event. In San Francisco in July laßt he furthor electrified tho swimming worM. by loworing Daniels's world record for the 75yds. and 100 yds., covering the former distanco in 39 4-ssec., and tho latter in 54 3-osec.