The Waipukurau Press. Published: MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, AND FRIDAYS. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1927. ABSTRACT ARTICLES

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 22, 21 February 1927, Page 4

The Waipukurau Press. Published: MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, AND FRIDAYS. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1927. ABSTRACT ARTICLES

NAVAL DEFENCE. Holding very definite opinions as concerning the obligation of this country, in common with other component parts of the Empire, to the Homeland in the matter of naval defence, we naturally welcome the observations made in. Wellington last week by the Prime Minister, on this vitally important subject. Mr Coates said that he would shortly submit proposals to his colleagues and afterwards to Parliament, more particularly affecting New Zealand’s contribution towards the cost of naval defence. li Until the Government has fully considered those proposals,” he added, “it would not be right for me to refer to them in detail. I shall content myself at the present moment by indicating that they will be in the direction of providing for an increased effort by the Dominion towards doing our part in rhe general scheme of Empire defence, and that the recommendations are largely the outcome of the personal conferences I was privileged to have with the First Lord of the Admiralty, the First Sea Lord, and other expert naval advisers to His Majesty’s The announcement thus made tends to show that words arc likely to become deeds, and that in real earnest the Dominion intends facing the burden of Empire to a financial extent proportionate to the measure of. its loyalty (as amply demonstrated in 1899-1901 and 1913-18)," and the consequence of upwards of £100,000,000 of overseas trade annually. That at present the Homeland contributes 32/- per head to naval defence (and faces the burden of such a crisis as that in China- unaided) as compared with 8/- by New Zealand, emphasises the present discrepancy .If other parts of the Empire are less willing than this Dominion to fill the breach, then let us'give them a worthy and liberal load, as in 1909 the Dreadnought gift of £2,000,000 value was made —at the time much criticised by the political opponents of Sir Joseph Ward, but subsequently applauded, the H.M.S. New Zealand being in the forefront of the battle line during the Great War. . z

BATHING FATALITIES. The almost invariable week-end chapter of bathing fatalities calls for special consideration. The toll of life is very heavy, and every possible avenue ,of prevention should be investigated, as the desirability of the healthy pastime is so pronounced that the dangers surrounding indulgence therein cannot very seriously be weighed in the balance against its value. A correspondent of “The Taranaki Herald” thus public-spiritedly gives advice on one important aspect of the matter: —■“ Reading .of the recent seabathing fatalities that have occurred, I would like to call attention to a fact which is often overlooked ,viz., the danger of entering the water without noticing whether the tide is coming in or going out —ebbing or flowing. I think that I cannot do better than call attention to some remarks of warning given by the late Professor Beckwith • —a one-legged man who, about 1860, was the champion swimmer of England. In his articles on learning to swim, published about that time in the ‘Boys’ Own Paper,’ of London, he cautioned bathers on the danger of bathing when the time was running out, and wont on to say that, through neglecting this caution he found himself carried out to sea on one occasion, and he had to remain out there for four' hours until the tide turned and he was able to come in again. It seems to me that some of the fatalities on both coasts, recently, might have terminated, quite differently if this preeatuion had been observed. As a matter of fact, the writer’s son and himself, over 20 years ago, had a very narrow escape from drowning through not observing the above advice. I may. add that I have seen large numbers of articles on .swimming, but no other ./writer has’> given the same warning. It stands' to . reason that if a person does get into || trouble, there is a greater chapee of his > life being saved if the tide is washinghim in, instead of taking him out.” •