FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 31, 6 February 1935, Page 10

FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY

As a result of the hot weather there has-been much discussion on bathing topics—the scantiness or completeness of "beach attire, the provision of bathing-sheds and baths, and the facilities for instruction in swimming. The last subject is of most importance. Lately there-have been numerous deaths by drowning and innumer- , able narrow '■ escapes. This is 1 accounted for mainly by the fact that the weather' has , attracted -to the .beaches and-rivers many thousands of people who either cannot swim or cannot swim enough to,get themselves out of danger. As a member of, the .Wellington Head Centre of the Swim'ining Association* said, the people j who'get''into difficulties are often 1 those who can swim a little. Strong 'swimmers, unless they run risks to rescue others, avoid trouble, and nonswimmers are usually careful. To I lessen fatalities, therefore, it is not sufficient to teach swimming. Care must also be taught. Thai can be done by seeing that there are sufficient and plain warnings in danger- : ous places. Voluntary beach patrols are also helpful. For-instruction-in swimming the Wellington Head Centre advocates compulsion in primary schools making the subject one for the proficiency examination when facilities are available and compulsory also in the training of teachers. Compulsion to ,this extent would, however; be mistaken; it would mean that a test foreign to -the purpose of the proficiency examination would be intxo- , duced. Without this degree of com- | pulsion, we believe that school authorities will readily do all they can to I encourage proficiency in a healthgiving exercise. But in order that they may do so there must be convenient facilities for instruction. Though Wellington has many beaches and two public baths the instructionarfacilities could be improved. Surf beaches are not suitable for the teaching of swimming, and baths are admittedly overcrowded. Te Aro Baths now have to cater for many more swimmers than when the Thorndon saltwater baths were in existence. Exten-' sion of the accommodation is not unreasonable. Indeed, it would be imperative if it were not that improvement of transport has made it possible for many people to travel further afield to the beaches. Actually the accommodation at the baths is no better than when Wellington had about half- its present population.