A NEGLECTED ART

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 140, 3 September 1927, Page 6

A NEGLECTED ART

LIFE-SAVING IN AUCKLAND FORMATION OF SOCIETY FULL SUPPORT REQUIRED *Written for THE SUN by G.Y.B.i It must be realised that swimming is of national import, but it must be remembered, too, that life-saving is also an important question to be considered. For years now Auckland has been sadly neglected as far as a lifesaving society is concerned, and although Auckland might be the premier swimming centre this aspect of j natation has been allowed to slide. ! In all other main centres, there are j branches of the Royal Life-Saving Society, each one doing a great work j in imparting the knowledge so essenj tial to swimmers. To be able to swim I does not mean that a person is capable I of saving a drowning person That, in itself, is an art. As far back as 1912 there was a branch of the Royal Life-Saving Society in Auckland, but for some reason it died out somewhere about 1919, and has not been in active operation since. A WELCOME REVIVAL There are still, however, a number of enthusiasts who realise the importance of a sound knowledge of the art of life-saving, and this week a meeting of those interested was held to consider the question of forming an Auckland branch of the society. It was pointed out by Dr. T. H. Pettit, who presided, th,a t adverse criticism had been levelled at Auckland by the society’s headquarters in London for the deplorable lack of interest being shown by Auckland in the furtherance of this important question. There was also another aspect that called for some action. At many of the schools in the city, children and adults had passed the necessary tests which entitled them to certificates and medallions, but, because there was no society here they were unable to obtain the awards of merit. The matter was one which should be taken in hand at once and with due recognition of the worthiness of the objects. The following officers were elected: Dr. T. H. Pettit, chairman; Mr. A. B. Coleman, hon. secretary and treasurer; Mr. H. O. Bowden, hon. assistant secretary; Mr. Twigden, hon. auditor; Mr. Wallace, hon. solicitor; hon. chief instructor and examiner, Mr. Malcolm Champion; hon. examiner and instructors, Miss Julian, Training College, and Mr. A. D. Trendall, Mount Albert Grammar School. NEED FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT So far so good, and it now depends on what support these enthusiasts will receive whether the society will become an established fact. In Mr. Champion, ex-distance champion swimmer of New Zealand, there is a man who is a past master of both swimming and life-saving, and he will be an acquisition to the society. This work calls for support, especially when it is remembered that 900 deaths from drowning have resulted in New Zealand in tho last five years. In a great many of these cases, other people have gone to the rescue of drowning people, and although swimmers, have lost their lives because of tho lack of knowledge necessary in life-saving. It is not a question to be lightly dropped. To every parent who has children enjoying the pleasure of swimming, must come the realisation of the necessity of life-saving playing a prominent part in their education. It is an invaluable asset and this attempt of a few worthy people to re-establish the society is one which must be fostered. All right-thinking people will see this view and it is hoped that tho support so necessary for the keeping alive and future development of so important a subject, which means a rapid decrease in the death-rate by drowning, will be forthcoming at once.