LIFE SAVING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 7, 3 October 1919, Page 11

LIFE SAVING

WELLINGTON HEAD CE'NTIiE. The annual meeting of the Wellington Head Centre of tho Koyal life-saving Society was held last evening, Mr. T. Honayne, 1.5.0., presiding. Speaking to tho motion regarding- tho adoption of the annual report, Mr. G. S. Hill referred, to tile'fact that the Government had renewed the pre-war, grant of ,£150.. which was very gratifying. The speaker went on to deal with the shortage of instructors during the war, and the consequent reduction in the numjj&r of awards granted. He ex- i pressed flleasure at the return of Lieutenant Duffy,, whom ho referred to as a valuable instructor. However, there was an urgent need for. further instructors, and. it was desirable that instructors should bo appointed to the various districts. , Mr. J. H. Duffy, chief lion, instructor, also referred to the question of instructors and explained that tho difficulty lay in the direction that when an individual gained an instructor's certificate ho neglected tho society. Something was ed in order that such instructors would be obliged to stand by tho society and work for it. Mr. H. E. H. Bird, acting chief honorary instructor, expressed similar sentiments. Mr. C. T. Bell suggested that the difficulty might be overcome by framing a regulation to compel all those who gained instructors' certificates to give at least two years' service to the society before, being issued with tho certificate. •The chairman • commended the suggestion, ibut thought the time rather long. He suggested a year nt least. The matter was left over for the incoming executive-to deal with. The annual report and balance-sheet were rend and adopted. Matters for the consideration of the new executive were mentioned by. . Mr. Gi S. Hill. Ono was the proposal that the headquarters of the Dominion Executive Council be moved from Canterbury to Wellington. This was not sought by Wellington, but' ho understood that there was a proposal to movo the headquarters to this: city. Another important matter was the development of swimming at Palmerston North, and he suggested tho advisableness_ of holding a public meeting' there with a view to forming a head -centre thero. There was also the matter of the Government grant,' "which it was' desired should be increased. It'was decided to deal' With the suggestions during the present year. '■ On tho motion of Mr. Collier it was decided that in future all'candidates for instructors' certificates will be required to train and qualify twelve pupils for the bronze medallion, before such certificate will bo granted. ■ The fact that there is -ho provision on the schools syllabus for instruction in life-saving was commented on, and it Iras .mentioned'', that'- instructors had great difficulty in obtaining sufficient children with 'which to form a class. Tho matter is to be further considered in order' to v arrange for some definite programme. • . :The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, His 'Excellency Che Gov-ernor-General; vice-patron, Mr. T. Ronnyne, 1.5.0.; -president, Dr. A. K."Newman, M.P.; .vice-presidents, tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G.), Dr. PlattsMills, and Messrs. J. Eigg, T. M. Wilford, 31.P., M. Chapman, .T. P. Firth, ,T. P. Maxwell, J. A. Tripe, H; Amos, W. H. Coy, and C. C. Odlin; chairman of the executive;-Mr. G. S. Hill; vicechairman, Mr. C. T. Bell; -secretary and treasurer, Mr; ,T. H. Duffy; trustees, Messrs. G. S. Hill, J. A. Duffy, and E. Perry;.chief lion, instructor, Mr. J. A. Duffy; assistant chief hon. instructor, Mr. R. Smith; examiners, Messrs. A. A'. Sonnnerville. W. C. Collier, E.' Perry, and H. E. H. Bird'; executive committee, Messt's. J. S. Oliver, W. Genie, W. C. Collier,- H. J. Austin, J. H. Powiek, R-. Tilhmins, E. Emerson, J. Foster, R. Smith, T. Shields, K. M'Cartney, — Binns, P. J. M'C.nrdell, S. King, alid Misses Vine and J. Aiken;- representative Dominion Executivo Council, Mr. J, W.vn Irwin; district representatives::Paekakariki, Mr. Johnston; Carterton. Mr. F. E. Tyler; Palmerston North. Mr. G. H. Bowen; Levin. Mr. D. W. Matheson; Nelson, Mr. G. M'Kay; Blenheim, Mr. J. G. Bacon,