SWIMMING.

Grey River Argus, 21 February 1927, Page 2

SWIMMING.

I WEDNESDAY’S CARNIVAL. The Greymouth Swimming Club’s i carnival on Wednesday at. Cobden is i for the raising of funds for the conii ’pletion of the swimming bath. Tin ’ Club count on the support of the schools throughout the district and particular* I ly that of the town schools. In addt- ' tion to the ordinary programme of swimming races and diving, Mr Keesing of Hokitika, will demonstrate ■|fanc.y diving and strokes, which exhibition will do much to stimulate the interest of the young people here (as has happened at Hokitika) in the art of swimming, an ait which unfortunately has been much neglected in Greymouth. A recent census taken in one of the leading local schools discloses the alarming fact that only about one-third of the boy pupils in all standards can swim. So far as the girls are concerned the number able to swim is very small indeed. It should be sufficiently obvious to all interested that this state of affairs can only be remedied by giving facilities for teaching the young people to swim in a safe clean pool. That there will be no lack of tuition 13 evidenced by the fact of many members expressing their willingness to do their share. Experts who have visited on* baths are unanimous in their opinion that the pool is in structure and appearance second to nothing in the Dominion, and the swimming sports and 'the public generally arc bound to wipe | off as soon as possible the deficit existing in the work now undertaken. The Both Committee, faced with the proposition “to tile or not to tile’’ decided on a snow white tile, relying on the people to rally round. That this decision is a happy one all visitors to I the bath are agreed, since there can be no question that the tiling is a matter that must be dealt with right at the beginning. To open the bath in the concrete state and trust to the future for the procuring of tiles was felt to be bad policy. Compare our present structure with its first grade white bath tiles, blue marking lines, and blue tiled spilways with some of the more or less dingy pools one has seer., and the answer is “tiles every time.’’ Mr Fielding, a recent arrival in town was present at the Swimming Club’s meeting, and gave some very interesting information regarding the Royal Humane Life Saving Society, of which he is a credited representative, instructor and examiner. It was decided to form a branch here and in this connect* tion Mr Fielding said he would make it his business to form classes with the schools and coach aspirants for the handsome medallions, and certificates of the society. The tuition would cover all points regarding the approach, holding, release, carrying and resusitation of the drowned or apparently drowned, and should receive enthusiastic support from young people and parents. Mr Fielding hopes to be able To demonstrate some life saving methods at the Carnival on Wednesday, when a large attendance is expected.