SWIMMING BATHS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 604, 1 February 1921, Page 5

SWIMMING BATHS.

WANTED IN PUKEKOHE. Some months ago the ratepayers of the Pukekohe Borough, sanctioned, a loan of £84,000 for various works, included in which was money for a swimming bath. There is not the slightest doubt that swimming baths are urgently needed here, and the sooner steps are taken to provide the baths the better it will be for all concerned. However, there does nvt seem to be much chance of the plunge bath being constructed this year or even by next summer as the money market is causing some concern and, to use the Premier’s own statement, there does not seem much chance before 1922 for an improvement in the financial position. We quite l’ealise that it was on account of the money market that the borough was unable to secure the amount of its loan. One of the dying needs of the town is a swimming bath, judging by the opinion expressed by the people. It will be remembered that in 1919, when the advisability of erecting a suitable memorial to perpetuate the memory of soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the great war, three forms of memorial were submitted, namely: 1, hospital; 2, swimming baths; 3, monument. At the municipal election in April of 1919, the electors were asked to vote on the preferential system for the above.' The hospital won, the swimming baths were second and the monument last. Steps were then taken to request the Hospital Board to erect a hospital, but it flatly turned the proposal down. Then there was the alternative, and in the interests of the health of the public the Borough Council should have carried out the wishes of the ratepayers and electors and proceeded with the construction of the swimming baths. But no, the question of the war memorial was dropped and soon after loan proposals were drawn up, including a swim-ming-bath, and earned. Had the Borough Council acceded to the request of the ratepayers and electors, no doubt the swimming baths would have been completed and one and all could have- participated in the advantages of the baths during the present summer. Here we are still waiting for the baths and are likely to do so for a few years, the £84,000 cannot be lifted, and the war memorial still no further ahead except that the money has been raised and a site is ready to place it upon. We are confident that if the “ progressive ” borough authorities of Pukekohe carried out the wishes of the ratepayers and the electors in 1919, that the swimming baths would have been erected by voluntary subscriptions. Quite a number of people who would not donate to the form of war memorial to be erected, would have given liberally to the swimming baths proposal. It is unnecessary to deal with the advantage of a plunge bath from a health point of view, but we do condemn the haphazard methods adopted by the borough authorities, not only in respect to the above but also other matters. During the last week or so a number of people have signified their willingness to find plenty of willing hands to do the excavation work necessary for the baths, and thus, at the present rate of wages and “go slow” tactics, a great saving would take place. If matters continue to go on as they have been during the last two years Pukekohe will not have progressed at all. At any rate, the municipal elections take place shortly, and it is therefore desirable that ratepayers and electors should give some thought to the matters pertaining to the welfare of the borough.