CITY BATHS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3056, 17 April 1917, Page 5

CITY BATHS

LOSS OF.- £84 FOB THE [ YEAR,

With the development.of our ocean and harbour/ beaches as bathing resorts, the municipal baths at Tβ "Aro and Thorndon. mustj almost, aecesearily, suffer. The development- of the" beaches has had a marked effect on the residential trend in Wellington' during ■ the past five years.; People who some few years ago would have scouted the idea of living out of town are now delighted to bo permanently' located at or near one of the bays, and as the. population moves out the city baths, suffer, as' it is upon the favour of such people that the baths depend for ronage. The year ended March 31 has been a very good test, as it has been . the.finest, warmest, and driest summer in the memory of niost people, and ■therefore a record bathing season,' yet; the receipts at both the Tβ Aro and Thorndon Baths are less than they were last year. It will be seen from the accompanying figures that only a small profit is shown in the case of the Tβ Aro Baths for the working year, whilst tbo Thorndon Baths—which will ere long be done away with —shows a loss of £106. The City: Council allows the children of State Schools free admission to tho baths on certain days of the week, and on a beginner qualifying by swimming a milo under observation, free tickets for a wholo season are given. Tho figures aro as follow: — . ' To Aro. 1916-17. 1915-IG. £ s. d. £ s. d. Receipts ...■ 688 7. 7 732 11 11 Expenditure ... 666 7>2 ' • 582 15 3 Thorndon. Receipts '....i...". 128 4 3 135 16 1 Expenditure ... 234 7 0 214 5 0 . In. connection with the ex])eiidituro ■at tho To-Aro (Clyde Quay). Bathe, it should be mentioned that a length of concrete wall was built at the north- . cast end duiing the year, and at tho eame time a great deal of silt was Dumped from the floor, of. v thg baths*