LIFE SAVING SHIELD

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 246, 16 September 1929, Page 10

LIFE SAVING SHIELD

CONFINED TO AAIATEURS,

PAID BEACH PATROLS INELIGIBLE.

CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 14. A lively discussion on the place of professionalism in life saving occurred when the New Zealand Council of the Royal Life Saving Society were debating recommendations of a sub-comniit-tee for a revised schedule of rules for the Nelson Shield competition. Clause two provided that each member of the shield team should be a bona fide amateur, in accordance with the rules of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. When the question ot the eligibility of beach patrolmen for shield teams was raised, Air H. J. Ballin (Taranaki) said he saiv no reason why any distinction should be made between patrolmen and other swimmers. As far as life saving was concerned they were all endeavouring to raise the standard of the sport. Cricketers had paid coaches who were allowed 10 play with and compete, among otherwise amateur teams.

Air D. V. Wilson said that the International Federation of Swimmers had ruled that bath attendants and beach patrolmen were professionals paid wore automatically disqualified for two years. The chairman (Air G. A Biilsm:) said that whether a man was ail amateur or a professional did not matter in life saving . Air P. R. Climie (Canterbury) : But we are dealing with competitive work. We don’t object to professionals saving lives, but this is a question of their competing with amateurs. Air Wilson said that the Brighton Club had been warned against swimming a mail because he was a professional cyclist. The rule was adopted in the proposed form, necessitating the confinement of competitive life saving work to amateur swimmers.

It was decided that provision be made for a New Zealand standard belt and line, and also to hold the championships at Greymouth on January 28.