COACH ON TOUR

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20726, 9 February 1939, Page 15

COACH ON TOUR

SWIMMING FACILITIES . MR J. PERRIN’S OBSERVATIONS LEARN TO SWIM WEEK PROSPECTS In the course of his tour through the South Auckland and Bay of Plenty districts, the prominent Rotorua coach. Mr J. Perrin, visited Hamilton yesterday, and to-day and to-morrow will carry out his duties here as coach for the North Island in connection with the “Learn to Swim Week.’’ Mr Perrin has been favourably impressed with the preliminary arrangements being made for the campaign in this centre and considers, that the enthusiasm apparent here points to most successful results. As the district is such a large one and embraces both South Auckland and Bay of Plenty the task before the organiser, Mr E. H. Grocott, of Hamilton, is particularv difficult. Starting in Auckland Mr Perrin has worked his way through Thames, Paeroa, Waihi and Hamilton and last evening paid a visit to Te Aroha. After leaving Hamilton he will go to Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Morrinsville, Matamata, Rotorua, Te Puke, Tauranga, Whakatane and Opotiki. From observations he has made Mr Perrin stated that everything pointed to a most successful campaign. The meetings were well attended by the instructors and they appeared to be wildly enthusiastic about the project. He was agreeably surprised at the standard of .the swimming pools he had seen in the course of his tour. Waihi had particularly good facilities in their tepid baths. Position In Schools Great enthusiasm was noted by Mr Perrin in the schools he had visited at Auckland, Papatoetoe and Paeroa. His object in going to the schools was to give the children some instruction in the elementary stages of swimming. So far as the instructors were concerned, Mr Perrin was of the opinion that they were quite capable of teaching beginners. Indications were that the South Auckland and Bay of Plenty Centres, . with the amenities and coaches they possessed would top the North Island in numbers taught to swim. Tribute was paid by Mr Perrin to the fine work being carried out by Mr Grocott, who is organiser for both the South Island and Bay of Plenty Centres. He had put a great deal of time into the scheme and had carried the task out with the utmost efficiency. A Word for Parents Mr Perrin referred to the dislike parents had for public baths and the prejudice they had to allowing their children to attend them. If the children where affected with some complaint after swimming many parents prohibited them from going to the baths again. The ear and nose complaints of which so much was heard was not the effect of the water in the baths but was caused by incorrect breathing of the swimmers. Children had a tendency to expel the water out through the nose with too great a force and the result was irritation of the delicate portions of the nose and ears. There was one chance in a million of catching complaints any other way. While speaking of baths, Mr Perrin wished to compliment the authorities on the state of the Hamilton Municipal Baths which he considered were notable for their cleanliness.