RECENT SURFING FATALITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3898, 24 January 1929, Page 3

RECENT SURFING FATALITY.

CRITICISM AND SUGGESTIONS. At a meeting of the Palmerston North sub-centre of the Royal Life Saving Society on Monday evening, the chairman, Mr. W. C. Collier, touched upon the unfortunate tragedy at /Foxton last Sunday. Two years ago, Mr. Collier reminded the Committee, this Centre had strongly recommended the Foxton • Harbour Board to provide lifesaving appliances on. the beach and along the river foreshore, and offered to organise demonstrations to illustrate the use of the life-sav-ing reel with the object of stimulating the interest of the local people into establishing a beach patrol. But to our suggestions we did not receive the /courtesy of a reply from the Board, although we learned subsequently that arrangements were in hand to place some lifebelts at suitable points. It came as a surprise to him, and no doubt to the Committee, that there was a life-saving reel on the beach, carefully housed in a shed fully 200 yards away from the point where most of the bathing is done. “I say,” stated Mr. Collier, “that local bodies and syndicates that open up beach resorts and induce people to spend their leisure hours there should feel a very great responsibility, and should provide adequately against the ever-present possibility of accident in the water. Members of the Wellington Swimming Club formed themselves into a bealeh patrol, quite voluntarily, and provided their own lifesaving equipment. They (practised assiduously and gained merit for themselves by the rescues they carried out and the proficiency they attained, until they were recognised as a power for good' by the City Council who provided thorn with a clubroom and gave them a status on the beach. The movement continued to grow until to-day there is not a finer life-saving organisation in Australasia.

“Now, I say that. Foxton can do this, i There is a lijke swimming club there with members who surely can interest themselves in the humanitarian side of swimming and who should be only too ready to form themselves into a patrol for the week-ends at least. The backing of the Harbour Board should be solid even to the provision of an up-to-date reel, equipment and a sirnfshed and .lookout for the life-sav-ers. Paekakariki has a thriving Surf Club, and what can be done there can surely be done at Foxton Beach.

“One other point I wish to touch on,” said Mr. Collier, “is that the newspaper reports indicate that a life-saving reel and life-lines were used in Sunday’s rescue, but I am credibly informed by one of those engaged in the rescue that such was not the case, the only appliance being a lifebuoy and the pieces of rope I have mentioned. Had there been, a properly equipped reel and a patrol to handle it I am sure this tragedy need not have occurred as there was not a very heavy sea running at the time. It is to be sincerely hoped that ' the Foxton authorities, while they continue to desire popularity for their beach as a seaside resort, will endeavour to provide equipment and arouse the interest of the local people for the establishment of a Surf Life-Sav-ing Club.”