LIFE-SAVING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 46, 17 November 1917, Page 12

LIFE-SAVING

ANNUAL REPORT OP THE SOCIETY

The reporf of the Wellington Centre of the Royal Life-Saving Society, to bo presented to the aunnal meeting on Wednesday next, says that the last year has been ono of unprecedented progress, marking plainly tho firm establishment! of the work of life-saving here. "In Marhc last," states the report, "a deputation waited upon the Director of Education, to lirgo greater promi'nenco in the public schools curriculum for swimming and life-saving. Tho deputation received a favourable audience, and the result has been that tho regulations have been amended to provide for compulsory teaching of swimming and lifesaving during the summer months at all schools whero facilities are accessible. And at this juncture we would urge upon eclioolmastors tho fact that no school in the Dominion is so planed that faoilities are liot accessible, aud to express tho hope that the pupils of the schools will bo given every available opportunity for becoming proficient swimmers and efficient life-savers. Another deputation of very great importance was that which waited upon the Wellington Headmasters' Association to seek tho co-operation of tho headmasters, and to removo prejudice tliat speed and distance swimming and life-saving tests were too severe a strain on tho young constitution. Here, again, your. delegates received a patient audience, and camo to a complete understanding, paving the way for better and more complete results among tho schoolchildren. Tho results in tliis direction have been magnificent. Our depleted staff of instructors has worked strenuously to keep tho old interest going in tho work, and their success is indicated by a record tablo of awards. Tho examination of candidates by tho centre's examiuor3 /resulted in tho granting of 515 awards for tho year. It is of note that the Police Department obtained twenty-six awards. The knowledgo will provo useful to members of tho Forco on tho waterfronts should occasion arise to necessitate their effecting a rescue or resuscitating a patient, fjixty-livo classes were organised and instructed during tho year, of which iifty-niuo were presented for examination. Twenty-six candidates failed to gain the award for which they enteral, while £ully forty candidates did not enter for any examination at all, either by reason of tho disorganisation of their classcs or of tho approach ol -winter. "Wo particularly stress the excellent work accomplished at tho Boys' Institute, Wellington College, aud Worser Bay Club. 'I'lio last-named, although classes havo been formed and instructed there in previous years and no awards havo resulted, last year came forward with two very typical classes, full of enthusiasm in the work and patriotism for their club. Tho Boys' Institute has among its successful candidates numbers of boys who wero non-swimmers six months priov to their undergoing examination. The results show what an immenso advantage tho tepid bath really is, and we cannot refrain from rom,irking that | tho public should awaken to the fact ami accord the bath a greater measure ol financial support." The carnival at: the commencement of the year was a severo drain, and sources of income havo diminished very substantially, so much so that, notwithstanding assistance from the T. G. Alaearthy Trust Fund lale in Iho previous year, tho assets aro only just ahead ol liabilities. Cash in hand amounts to 15s. In oxtenuation of tho position, the previous yoar saw payments in full of stock and other liabilities. Tho temporary loss of Mr. J. A. Duffy, whoso work was always one of tho society's mainstays, is rogreted, and tho committee wishes him overy success on active service, and a safo return. Mr. Collier is acting as chief honorary instructor | in his absence.