SWIMMING

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1930, Page 5

SWIMMING

WELLINGTON CENTRE

WELLINGTON, October 28.

Concehi at the Government's action in discontinuing the grant to the New Zealand ' Amateur ' Swimming Association for swimming instruction in schools was expresesd at the annual meeting of the Wellington Centre this evening. It was decided to write to the New Zealand body asking for all information on the subject, and suggesting that a deputation from Wellington should be allowed to wait on the Minister for Education. Mr H. R. Fisher, the Centre’s educational officer, said be felt keenly on the Government’s decision, and thought something should be done to try to induce the Minister to reconsider the question. It was always very difficult, he said, to make people realise that swimming instruction could not be carried on without adequate finance, though everyone, admitted its importance. Last year, lie sajil, 50,009 certificates had been won by school children out of a possible of 125,000,: and it was a work that bad been carried on with on expense to the country beyond that of printing the certificates. It was a question that should be put before the Minister with all the insistence and deterministion possible. Unless something were done it would be thought that the swimming authorities had taken the Government’s refusal to make a •grant as a,n indication that noth- ■ in or could be done . Member* generally agreed that the rmestion should not he dropped, and the action mentioned was decided upon. At the same time it is intended to approach the New Zealand Council as to the position of placing swimming on the syllabus in schools.