Dear Sir

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 38, 25 January 1946, Page 4

Dear Sir

Letters to the Editor must b® clearly written on one side of the paper only and where a nom-de-plume is used the name of the writer must be included for reference purposes. The Editor reserves the right to amend or withhold any letter or letters.

VOICE OF YOUTH Sir, —I wish to express in my own words the inefficiency of the City Fathers in regard to the lack of en-t tertainment for the younger generation. Perhaps they forget thst forty, fifty, sixty, seventy and probably a few more years ago they liki ed somewhere to play and something to play with. First of all we would like a decent swimming pool 113 1-3 yards by 15 yards and 10ft. deep at tlie deepest end. I know it costs money but in my opinion our fathers would willingly give a donation j.ust to know that we have somewhere to swim—a place where we would not catch diphtheria, a place where the •sewerage does not' flow out and where we would not cut our feet on pieces of broken bottle and such like.

I know the swimming pool will take time to he built and until then we will probably have to swim down at “ye olde wharf” but there you are again. Are we expected to dress and undress in a filthy little, shed which will accommodate eight and where there are six rusty bent nails on which to 3 bang our clothes. We

can’t even get dressed in peace as stones are thrown at u§ through the, gap under the shed. Qlir parents come down to sec how we are getting on with our swimming and then mother says “I ha(l better have a look at the dressing shed.” She goes and has a look, gives a shudder of disgust and promptly says, •‘No more, swims here.” This is the case of many mothers. Most of us are expected to look after our smaller brothers and s,i&ters in the holidays and weekends, and there is nothing these : little ones like better than a swing or slide—but arc we who live in Dougtlie Street etc., expected to cart art Strcetc etc., expected to cart the children down to. the Heads. There is a playground in town, but it is in a stale of disrepair. How about a swing or two in the Do-t main ? As I said before I know it all costs money but ~«u. uu our lathers pay rates for ?

For Ave older ones, avc like playing organised sport such as softbalf cricket etc. I knoAV there is a sports ground being ‘planned Put is anything to come of .it? While talking about sports would someone undertake to form a municipal sports club. Every Church has its own tennis club but not every-, one goes to Church and most people like a game now and again.

To get-away from bur enjoyments, don’t you think Whakatane is very

backward in the way of gardens and natural beautification. Have you

ever thought of, how much gardens in the Domain and on the approach to the toAvn would brighten up the place ? i am sure that visitors to Whakatane must think that this is a very dreary place. After you have been down-the Heads and over to Ohope Avell you have seen all there is to see. While on the ject of visitors, what do the City Fathers think of the approach to Whakatane ? It appears to the vislr tor that he or she is about to come across a derelict village. Could you induce the residents to keep the laAvns outside their gates cut ? Also lioav about planting some flowers in

and on the quarry opposite Sliap* ley’s, or, if the quarry is still in use how about some trees in front of the quarry. If the youn'g folk of Whakatane* arc to turn into good useful citizens they need a good healthy occupation for their spare moments. Yours etc. MERELY A GIRL.