THE PENDULUM SWINGS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 206, 30 August 1940, Page 5

THE PENDULUM SWINGS

COUNCIL'S VIEWS ON OHOPE SWIMMING POOL PREVIOUS RESOLUTIONS RESCINDED WORKS COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE Though a change of mind is usually considered the prerogative of women they have no monopoly, as instanced by the Whakatane County Council's decision to rescind former tions dealing with the proposed Ohope swimming pool. It will be remembered that those resolutions, which were made in February and March, indicated! the Council's disapproval of the project but the continued efforts of JMr F. Mahy, Senr., of Ohope, the promoter of the scheme, aftd of- Cr H. C. Mc--Cready, riding member on the ■council, coupled with some very able speaking by members of a 1 deputation which waited on the -council on Tuesday j have wrought a miracle ..... perhaps. By a 5 to 4 vote the council decided to forget the past, letting bygones be bygones, andi -resolved that the Works -Committee should investigate one or two problems and report to the :next meeting of the full body.

"Before the deputation from the 'Ohope -Ratepayers' and Progress League -was invited into the presence of the councillors, the County Clerk read a letter received from Mr F. Mahy, Senr M in which it was ■stated that he and Mr Mahy, Jnr.,. -would be prepared to find the balance of the sum needed for the construction of the pool l , taking their -chance in recovering it later. The Deputation's Case. Cr McCready introduced the deputation. . which was welcomed by the acting-Chairman, Mr W. A. Mc'Gracken. Cr McCready said he hoped that the outcome would settle a long-standing difference and the -chairman said that the council -would be pleased to hear the .views. Mr W. Sullivan was No. 1 speaker in the case for, and commenced by "telling the council that it was not "being asked to give anything; on the contrary, it was being asked to receive. The speaker paid a tribute "to Mr Maliy, to whom all credit for the proposal was due and said that the chief bone of contention appeared to be the question of site. Adding his personal views, Mr Sullivan informed the council that in the first place he was not in favour -of the pool's construction but he had made enquiries with an open mind and every person he had contacted was in favour. He realised that some obligalions might be imposed on the Council but every local body couid expect that and he thought it right, so long as the burden was net. too "heavy. As far as supervision was concerned, there was little required. It was only in the summer that it would be needed and interested residents would be assisting in that -direction. The First Dive.

Mr Sullivan, continuing, said that if all necessary funds were provided the council's load would not be too much to bear. Again stressing the district's indebtedness to Mr Mahy, the speaker said that the promoter "would derive no benefit except in the •satisfaction that some contribution had been made towards life-saving. Concluding, Mr Sullivan suggested the formation of a small committee of council which could confer the Ohopei residents. The speaker offered! Mr McCracken the privilege of the first dive into the bath, reverting to his former serious; tone when observing that it would[ not be reasonable to turn the project down after the citizens' hard work. Mr F. Mahy, Snr., was number two speaker, and he" commenced with the observation that after Mr Sullivan's peroration he did not think he could say much to influence the coun oil. Mr Mahy said he had covered the scheme from A to Z and had gathered the necessary material. "I am asking the council, if it is composed of sensible, humane men, to decide in favour of the pool," said Mr Mahy, "and if not, you will turn it down. I leave it to your conscience."

An Able Exposition. Mrs Cloudier, of Ohope, was responsible for an able exposition in presenting' what she termed 'the women's point of view.' A day at the beach was no rest for a mother, said Mrs Clouglier, the only changes being in air and sink, "When a high surf is running you do not get a minute's rest and it is a hard day's work looking after the children. If a pool were constructed the children could learn to swim there and thus quaf'fy for surf swimming," said Mrs Cilougher. "The feminine mind jumped to the conclusion long ago that one 'bad' man could do much lo unite a nation through physical culture," the speaker instancing the introduction of swimming pools into German3 r years ago in an effort to get that nation physically hi. Several good men could do much in the same direction, Mrs Clouglier indicated, and the main point that had to be considered was the conservation of life. Ohope's Progress. In apologising for the absence of the Ohope Surf Club president, Mr Kingsley-Smith said that body was wholeheartedly behind the movement, offering its co-operation in instructional work and willing to make its services permanently available through the years. "Another aspect,'", said Mr King"is the amazing growth, of Ohope in the last five years. In that time it has developed into a resort of which the county can be proud. From that development call be gauged something of Ohope's future." The in making his point, addled that at every comparable resort learn-to-swim pools were provided for the children. He asked the council to give the matter full and sympathetic consideration.

Mr Smith, formerly of Rotorua, was another to pay a tribute to Mr F. Mahy for his efforts, stating that at Rotorua months of hard work had been necessary before the final establishment of a pool at the Primary School. It should be realised, he said, that the construction of a pool at Ohope must automatically assist the County Council. More people woulcl go there, more sections would be sold and a steady increase in rates would be recorded. "The children of to-day are the ratepayers of to-morrow, " said Mr Smith and concluded with support for Mr Sullivan's idea that a small subcommittee of the council, if 'set up, could go into the question thoroughly and, he had no doubt, settle it amicably. Question Time. At this stage questions were invited and in response to the Chairman's query on the financial position Mr Mahy said that efforts had been made to secure a subsidy but he was not counting on that. Finance sufficient for the building of the pool was in hand and he was not asking the council to undertake the construction: Cr McGougan, who was turning his question into an address until halted! by the Chairman, said that the deputation's views had proved interesting and he was sure that the council as a whole was not opposed to the swimming pool. Though Mr Mahy was deserving of the highest crcdit the first thing he should have done was to get a site. In that failure there was evident reliance on the council. In his opinion Ohope was not the proper place for the pool, which should be in the Borouugh. The residents of Whakatane, of course, evidently did not desire a pool as no advantage had been taken of the Harbour Board's offer of a suitable site. Continuing, Cr McGougan said that there was reason in the women's point of view and the council's main objection was the probable supervision that might fall to its lot. In a jocular. mood: "Of course, the borough will soon be at Ohope and when that happens the school will have to be shifted there." Cr McGougan congratulated Mr Mahy on his work. Cross Talk Develops. Cr Lux ton asked whether the supply of water was enough for both the dressing sheds, which had recently been constructed, and the pool. Mr Mahy: Well, the Engineer has said so. Cr Luxton: The Engineer has not said so definitely. Mr Mahy: Well, I lie re is no doubt Cr Luxton: We do not want to leave anything to doubt, you know.

Cr McCready broke into the dialogue to affirm with emphasis that lie had heard the Engineer make a definite statement at the council table and that statement was that the supply of water was sufficient for both the dressing sheds and the pool. Cr Burt asked Mr Mahy whether it would not be possible to form some sort of enclosure in the surf, Mr Mahy replying that the idea had been considered and found not feasible. <- Referring to Mr Mahy's letter, in which it had been stated that the writer and another would be prepared to exercise the necessary supervision for a period of four or live years. Cr Luxton said the responsibility was on the council if the bath were erected on the Domain site. Mr Mahy: If the council is really liable a cover can be effected. Cr Luxton: The liability is there under the law. It applies to everything and the responsibility will fall on the council when you are tired after four or live years. The council would then have to appoint a caretaker for about eight months of the year at a weekly wage of £.">. Mr Mahy: I can remember you saying before, Cr Luxton, that the pool would only be used for about six weeks of the year. In any case it is proposed to erect a fence around the pool and there will be no danger when it is not in use. Cr Luxton: I did make that statement but the time of use is lengthened by picnic parties at the beach. "Would it not be possible, to buy suitable land from a private owner?" asked Cr Smith. The Play Goes On. Mr Mahy said the reasons for the choice of the site were because it was central; it was public property; and it was Under the eye of the Surf Club. Cr McCready rose at this point to say that Mr Mahy had owned and would have given the site in question but the County Council had forced him to sell, and, making hay while the sun was in a favourable mood, the councillor continued. "We are told that the borough is the appropriate place. Perhaps it is but there is no one in the borough pub-lic-spirited enough to promote such a scheme. This is a splcn iid offer and it is up to the council to assist with the provision of children's facilities."

Securing permission to add to his former remarks, Mr C. King-sley-Smith asked: "Would it not be possible to create within the council a small Domain Board for the administration of the pool? A Domain Board is by law free of all liability in that it has no assets." After Cr McGougan had expressed the view that the formation of a committee to investigate and report was, perhaps, a sensible course, Mr Sullivan, in his capacity as leader of the affirmative side, summed up the deputation's case. He thanked the council for a patient and attentive hearing and was of the opinion that any small difficulties which appeared to exist could be satisfactorily overcome. The suggestion that the money collected by Mr Mahy should be used for the establishment of a bath in the borough was absolutely out of the question. The money was expressly for use at Ohope. Ohope and Ohope. The hard work came after the deputation had left and the council appeared to be evenly divided on the question, with one or two members, however, remaining neutral. In a natural sequence the discussion drifted from the pool to rating proportions in the county, with Ohope expenditure in general forming one of the main points. It required the vote to bring the council back to the primary feature. But more of that anon. Asserting that he had a dislike of voting on a matter of which he knew little, Cr Burt suggested that the Avhole council should visit the beach to investigate". Personally, from what he knew, he was in sympathy with the views expressed. Cr Smith, while of the. opinion that the pool was a fair sort of idea, and appreciating the effectiveness of the deputation's plea, did not consider that it presented itself as a reasonable excuse for calling on the ratepayers in his riding to assist in carrying the possible liability. In effect, Cr Smith suggested that a rating area at Ohope would provide the .solution. Otherwise, he said, it might possibly result in a bigger liability than the Rural Housing Scheme, and this sally was, greeted with some laughter.

Councillor is Astc.unded. Support for this protection of riding ratepayers was afforded by Cr Ward law, who did not see why they should have to pay. That they would have to pay was probable as sooner or later the liability would find its rest with the council. Cr Cawte made up the trio for this view and complained: "I come a long way to these meetings and, lately, over half has been taken up with Ohope aflairs. I would like to see Ohope in a separate Road District. or taken over by the borough" Cr McCready confessed himself astounded at some of the unkind thoughts harboured against Ohope and explained, at length, that the district paid 1 more rates, in proportion, than any other part of the county. Then, on another line of attack: "Inconsistency. That's what it is. Inconsistency. You get a thing like the Rural Housing Scheme and you put it over the whole county. Then, when you get this, with no money attaching to it—and no liability, you go falling over the bogey.'* Cr McCready indicated that this altitude upset him somewhat. The Chairman., Cr McCrackcn, said he was in sympathy but was troubled by the possible liability. He quoted figures relating to expenditure on Ohope roads, stating, inter alia, that though £563 had been spent on these roads last year (the figure included access roads), only £330 had been received from the area in general rates. , On that,* he said, there could be no question that the district so far had been a liability. The problem before the council, however, was the rescission of the former resolutions. A Tolly Time Was Had By All'.!

Cr MeCready expressed his surprise at the Chairman's reference to roading, Cr McCracken interrupting with a reminder that, the riding member himself had raised the point "Yes," said Cr McCreacHy, "and X am going to see it through to a finish. There's no halfway stopping for me." The councillor continued. "There hadi to be roads; there must be some foundation. You can't expect a township to spring up out of the mist. Everything had to be provided in other places before they could become established." It was agreed that the rescinsion of the resolutions would allow the council a free hand to deal with the problem presented! by the pool and it was also agreed that the rescinsion would make for an 'as you were' position. If, on the other hand, the council still thought that light was might and it was right, there was nothing more to be said. For the motion to rescind five hands went up in answer to the Chairman's request for a show, those of Councillors McCracken, McGougan, MeCready, Wardlaw, and Burt. With only nine councillors present the minority accepted the position without reaching for the ceiling, Cr MeCready then moved that a committcc confer with the Obope Ratepayers' and Progi*ess ".eague, at Oh ope, and it was agreed that the Works Committee, with the inclusion of the riding member, should meet that body. And so concluded another chapter in the Battle of the Bath. The strain and anxiety; the necessity for alertness; the swinging of the pendulum of prospects —had their reflex, and the stillness of tired peace settled on the council chamber. After a while, someone asked, "Is there any further business?" There was not and the gentlemen rose.