HASTINGS LEARNS TO SWIM

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 69, 14 December 1937, Page 4

HASTINGS LEARNS TO SWIM

Old and Young Throng the Baths ENTHUSIASTIC PUPILS "We had more pupils than we antieipated, but excellent progress was made, and we are hopeful tnat Ave will have practically 100 per cent. success," said an tflicial the Heretaunga Swimming and Life-Saving Club this morning, when cominenting upon the opening of the "Lea: a to Swim" campaign in the Maddison Baths, Hastings, last evening There were 98 pupils in attendance and all were given their first lesson. The majority of those in attendance last night were juniors, and, to quote the remark of an official, a "real handful they were too." Full of enthusiasm and eagerness, the youngsters displayed a rare lceenness to learn as much as it was possible in the one session, and it was with great reluctanee that they were prevailed upon to leave the water at the end of the half-hour. There were a number of adults desiring to swim, several being mothers and fathers of families, some of the members of whom were in the adult stage. "My son can swim but he can't teach me or his wife to swim," explained one father, while there was another pupil who is probably approaching the three score in age. A pleasing feature of the adult session was the confidence that the pupils displayed in the instructors, and^general satisf action was felt at the progress made. Naturally orogress was more marked among the intermediates, and particularly the juniors. "Some of the juniors will be able to swim after to-night, or perhaps after three lessons," said e instructor. "We are confident that if the pupils will attend all the week then we will come pretty close to obtaining a 100 per cent. success." The club will be continuing with the three sessions — adults from 6.30 to 7, children under 14 years from 7 to 7.30, and children over 14 years from 7.30 to 8 — each evening until Thursday. There was a big erowd of pupils taken in hand also by the officials of the Mahora Swimming Club at the sehool baths. No special sessions were observed, bilt ue baths were allocated for a period exclusively to non-swim-mers and instructors, and satisfactory progress was made. "Several actually learnt to swim in the one lesson," said an official. " There was one young lady who was making her first appearance in a swimming bath and within ten minutes she had swum a width. It was the fastest piece of coaching I've ever seen. There were quite a number of adults, but the majo- . rity were children.' ' Several learners were coached at the Parkvale sehool baths, and here again there were adults as well as children, indicating that generally there is an appreciation by the community of tne need for learning to swim.