THE VALUE OF SWIMMING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 23, 20 February 1909, Page 2

THE VALUE OF SWIMMING.

OOfMIPULfcOKY LESSONS IN SCHOOLS Till!] MINISTER'S VIEWS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Penguin disaster suggested to an Auckland school committee that swimming be made a compulsory subject in all public; schools, but a statement by the Hon. (jCO. Fowlds. Minister for Education, shows that there are insup- , erable difficulties in tile 'way, though the fUovernment- does a good deal already to entourage the art. "Jt is impossible to make swimming a compulsory subject." said Mr. Eowhls. "unless you have places for children to swim in. t'ladoubledly it is an important matter, and* I think everyone ought to learn to swim in places where there are suitable opportunities. I think care is already taken to train children, but to make' this compulsory would carry with it an obligation to provide swimming bath*, which is, oi course, a matter for the local authorities.'' It was suggested by the Minister tlrtifc a good deal of misapprehension existed as to the value of swimming in such a case as the Penguin disaster, when there was a rough sea, 'making it'beyond the power of anyone to save himself by swimming alone, though it was, of course, of great value in eualditig the unfortunate people to reach the rafts and boats and to get ashore when tliey had drifted l close to the beach.

"We. give encouragement to swimming bv'a> capitation grant/' continued the Minister. "Swimming and life-sav-ing classes may be iformed of children hi standard IV. of the .primary schools, and' if twenty half-hour lessons are given in the season a. payment is made of 2s Gd per pupil. The local authorities also assist materially by allowing scholars to use the batlis free of cost, at least 1 do not know an exception lo thi* rule."

Tn 1007 comparatively few districts had taken advantage of the Coverji* mwit's offer ,of capitation; only 81 classes were recognised by the Miuisler. Most interest appeared to- be taken in the matter in North Canterbury, where there were 35 classes, while in Nelson, a comparatively strtall education district, fifteen classes were in operation. Wangauui had six classes earuiag the grunt, but in no other district were there more than two classes, Auckland, the largest educational district in New Zealand, having only one. Now, hawever, the demand for Oovernuieut assistance is rapidly increasing, for there are Ml> classes, Auckland district having set a good example by adding I!) to its pioneer class, while Otago's two have increased to 25.