BEHIND THE SCENES

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20727, 10 February 1939, Page 7

BEHIND THE SCENES

LEARNTO SWIM CAMPAIGN WORK IN SOUTH AUCKLAND AREA COMMITTEE’S BIG UNDERTAKING Few people perhaps realise the vast amount of work and time involved in launching a Learn-10-Swim Campaign in a district such as this, where till 1 , centres are far apai l and the children involved scattered. For a fortnight, commencing on February 20 and concluding on March 4. the project will be in Operation in Hamilton, and from next Monday until the first few days in March various towns throughout the South Auckland and Bay of Plenty areas will be instructing thousands of children in this nationally-important work. The whole of the South Auckland and Bav of Plentv Swimming Centres will be controlled from Hamilton, where Mr E. H. Grocott, the organis-ing-secretarv chosen by the National Committee of Swimming and Lifesaving. is stationed. For many years Mr Grocott has played an active part in swimming, and no better choice could have been made by the authorities to run such a campaign. Organiser’s Task It is necessary for the organiser to visit 25 of tiie largest- towns in the area under his control, setting up local committees in each. The fewest number of schools any committee is handling is seven, while Hamilton is controlling the most, 25. Altogether, Mr Grocott travelled just on 1500 miles, j All the work he is doing in connection with the campaign is voluntary. At the beginning of December all the schools in the area were circularised in order to obtain information as to how many children were unable to swim, the facilities which were offering for their instruction in the various centres and the means they had of transporting the learners to the various baths. Having obtained those facts, the next task was to list out 25 local committees and to supply them with data concerning the work they would have to perform, the number of instructors which would be available, and the best methods of conducting the campaign in their particular area. Department Approached With the committees established it was then necessary to communicate with the Department of Internal Affairs regarding leave for the various instructors. An itinerary had to be worked out for the North Island coach, Mr J. Perrin. In a rush tour it would take Mr Perrin just over three weeks to complete his round of the various towns. When the campaign is launched in Hamilton 50 adult supervisors will be employed and 130 instructors, who will he expected to handle some 1500 children. Figures to hand so far indicate that about 4000 children will be involved in the campaign throughout the district. In Mr Grocott’s enthusiasm for the campaign in which he is putting so much of his time is the proof that statistics give for swimming accidents being equal on a pro rata basis with road accidents. For the 12 months ended March, 1937, drownings were as high in proportion as all forms of fatalities from transport. There is thus a grave need for instruction in swimming amongst the younger generation. The aim of the national committee is to teach 75,000 New Zealand children to swim. Help from Parents Considering the individuals connected with the campaign in this district are expending such tremendous energy to ensure its success, an appeal is made to parents of children requiring instruction to co-operate with the organisor. The vital need for the campaign and its national importance are borne out by the accident statistics. Parents can assist by making sure that their children who are unable to swim are induced to join in the campaign.