OHOPE SWIMMING POOL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 140, 29 March 1940, Page 4

OHOPE SWIMMING POOL

Sir,—The determination of certain persons to have a fresh water swimming pool at Ohope seems to me the silliest thing proposed yet. We want our children to learn to swim and no child should be. allowed to leave school till they can, but the place for the baths is alongside the school where it would not be a costly place to get to find children could have a swim and out again in a short time. Then again the teachers would be able to supervise. . Swimming carnivals could be arranged and being in the central posi•3on parents easily aty*nd. I ain sure the GovernmerAklaould give a subsidy for' this and nlariy of us would heartily do our best to make the scheme go if put in the hands of capable people, of whom; Whakatane is not lacking. What couldn't be done if we put our shoulders to the wheel. Another thing. The Show Association could add to their programme a swimming competition and this could fill in an otherwise quiet hour in the middle of the day and help to create more interest. Pool our sports interests—united we stand divided we fall. Why let private interests interfere with the good of the district at large. This spirit has crippled our district in the pasfc but why should we sit down and complain when the damage is done. We mothers must wake up and, stop this before it is foisted upon us —and when a school bath is suggested it will be said "Oh, you have one at Ohope." Even if it is never used, who would think of bathing, in it when the ocean is just at hand. Yours etc., MOTHER.