A SERIOUS MATTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3607, 1 March 1927, Page 2

A SERIOUS MATTER.

♦ REMOVAL OF LIFE BELTS BY HOOLIGANS. At yesterday’s meeting of the Eoxton Harbour Board, held in Palmerston North, the Palmerston North Royal Life Saving Society wrote, suggesting that bathing should be restricted by means of sign posts erected on the beach and river bank; that more prominent notices should fee provided to warn bathers against entering the water at the river mouth when the tide is ebbing; and also that provision should be made' to provide life belts at convenient points. “Anything we can do to promote this object we should do,” remarked Mr. J. Chrystall (Foxton), when the matter was raised for discus-, sion. “These drowning fatalities are becoming far too common, and we should act in i accordancte with our funds.” Mr. E. li. B. Holben: Signs should be erected preventing bathing at certain points. We have put life belts on (he beach before and they have been removed. The chairman (Mr. J. Linkiater): Repeatedly! “It is a crying shame that we should ac;t in this manner, and hoodlums should deliberately take the life belts away,” added Mr. Holben. “A reel is not much use on the beach unless there is a body of men to operate it.” He then moved, and it was carried, that two sigti posts be erected on the open beach and two on the i*iver bank proper, to indicate safe bathing places; and further that the secretary be instructed to secure six life belts from the U.S.'S. Coy, for the use at the bathing resort. The chairman explained that the Board had previously prohibited bathing between a given point and the bathing sheds, and repeatedly men had been warned about bathing there. Warnings by the pilot had gone unheeded, and when he had ’ interferred he was asked whose business was it that people bathed in the dangerous spots?

Mr. Holben said that in Napier people had been prosecuted for ignoring the beach signs. Mr. 3. A. Nash, M.P.: I would like to go further in this matter, and move a resolution to the effect that when the sigh posts are erected, that the pilot he instructed to take action against offenders of the regulations.

The secretary (Mr. Rbore Rangiheuea), said it was suggested that picnic parties should be charged a fee to provide patrolmen on the beach.

Mr. Holben: Put these signs boards up and let them take the risk, and if they do, then prosecute them.

The resolution relative to taking action against bathers who ignore the signs, was eventually carried.