LEARNING TO SWIM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 41, 18 February 1939, Page 11

LEARNING TO SWIM

INSTRUCTIONAL PAMPHLET DISTRIBUTION IN WANGANUI SCHOOLS PROGRESS IN CAMPAIGN Wide distribution of instructional pamphlets throughbut the Wanganui primary, secondary and private schools has been carried out this week by the district committee of the National Committee of Swimming and Life-Saving. This is in pursuance of the “Learn-to-Swim” campaign which has been conducted in Wanganui for several weeks of the present season, and will reach its zenith next week in conjunction with the national movement. During the present week Mr. J. B. Cotterill, M.P. for Wanganui, and president of the Wanganui Swimming Centre, visited several of the local schools. In addition to distributing the pamphlets Mr. Cotterill accepted the invitation of the principals to address the pupils on the importance of learning to swim. He was accorded a very attentive hearing and the result of his visits to these schools should be that added interest will be displayed in the campaign. School Arrangements. At the Friends’ School, St. John's Hill, stated Mr. Cotterill, only a small percentage of the children were unable to swim, and these were mainly new pupils. At St. John's Hill School tentative arrangements were made for non-swimmers to attend at the Intermediate School baths to receive instruction. At the Aramoho School the pe: ntage of swimmers is gratifyingly large, and the school baths will be made available for children from Brunswick and Kai Iwi. the Centre's instructor. Mr. F. W. Roydhouse. being in attendance during next week. The caretaker, Mr. C. Firmin, has also rendered invaluable service in teaching Keen interest has been displayed at the Intermeliate School, where members of the teaching staf have been active in furthering a campaign to secure 100 per cent of swimmers. The Marist Brothers' School has a commendably high percentage of swimmers, the pupils attending at the St. George's Gate baths, where Miss P. Watts and other voluntary assistants have done much good work. Wanganui East School also has a large number of swimmers in proportion to the school roll, the teaching staff having undertaken the work during the season. The Gonville. Tawhero and St. Anthony’s Schools have attended at the Gonville baths, where the custodian, MbT. Anderson, and the various teaching staffs have been able to maintain a high percentage of swimmers. The building of the Durie Hill baths has enabled the committee to assist materially in the campaign. Castlecliff School, with baths provided by the old boys of the school, will be assisted as far as possible by voluntary instructors, and through the courtesy of the committee these baths may be used by the St. Vincent's School. M.P. As Instructor. The pupils of the Queen’s Park School attend at the St. George’s Gate baths, Mrs. Quirk having displayed a keen interest in giving them instruction during the past three years. Instruction will be given the Sacred Heart Convent pupils daily next week by Mr. Cotterill himself. Endeavours are being made to accommodate the pupils of the Mosston, Westmere and Kaitoke schools at some of the local baths, and probably more than one of the secondary schools with facilities for swimmingall have swimming baths—may make the baths available for at least an hour daily for some less fortunate country school. "The campaign is well under way in Wanganui,” remarked Mr. Cotterill, “and with the co-operation of parents, pupils and teachers I feel sure that it will be crowned with the success it deserves.”