NO BATHS FOR LEVIN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 June 1911, Page 2

NO BATHS FOR LEVIN.

_—• • DECISION OF THE BOROUGH COUNCIL. GOVERNMENT S££&IDY .DECLINED At a late hour last evening _, Borough Council discussed ornment subsidy of £250 for pu'bhc A baths for Levin in connection wit the Coronation. ,->^^| Cr. Mackenzie moved: TSvat sum of £125 be placed on the timates this year for tlie purpose of erecting a swimming bath in Levin, j the. total expenditure by tho Bor- : ough to be ;G2oO spread over two years. In moving folio resolution Cr. Mackenzie said that municipal baths were- a growing necessity, and, ho thought they would be very foolish when they had an offer of a subsidy of £250 from the Government

— that was to say, when they had an offer from the Government to pay half the cost of baths—not to accept bhat offer. It would not increase the rates from the IJd a single figure. He quoted Hawera, where they had excellent baths, and with nothinig like the facilities at Levin, and pointed out that in tho latter place, the town would, tit tho end of two years, have its baths absolutely free. He thought it would be a good paying investment, and pointed out that at tibe present time the children of the district had only the Ohau to bath in, and stated that it was only a matter of time before they would, have fatalities such as they had had in the past.

Cr. Franco: I don't trust your figures. I have heard you before. Cr. Mackenzie warmly retorted: that tho facts he had adduced with regard t'o Hawera wero absolutely correct, and be challenged Cr. France to dispute them. Cr. France went on to say that he would support public baths, but objected to the way in which it was proposed to finance them. They could not bo started at the present time from revenue.

the Mayor said that the whole question was whether the Council was going to accept tho offer of C 250 from the Government. Everyone recognised that but very few towns of Levin's size were- without swimming baths. During the last, three years a.lmost every town had. been erecting baths — Cartorton, Taihape, M'asterton and many other places. Tho point he wanted! to emphasise, was this—baths would have to come. The- Council Iliad been offered a Government subsidy, and they were quite satisfied according to information received they eonl<l put up baths of a good character, hi. Carterton batihs had 'been erected on a quarter-acre section. £274 had been spent, and to complete them it would take about another ■£2/30. Tf Levin got its £250 subsidy, and. if they paid it off in two instalments they must recollect tJhey were saving interest over the next 33 years. He was sure swimming baths would be forced 1 upon them. The agitation for them would be so .great within a year that they would have to to the ratepayers for a loan. What would : be the result? They would have, to borrow the money and' pay interest at the rate of C2o a year.

A question arose a.s to whether the Government would give tho subsidy of £250, some of the members casting a doubt on the matter. In reply, the Mayor read the following telegram which he fluid re> coived from Mr Field, ...P.: "Have just seen tllie Minister who promises a Government contribution £ for £ up to £250 for swimming baths in> Levin."

Cr. Blenkhorn thought baths higjily desirable things, but ilic ccrtwmly did not think at present they were a pressing necessity. Levin was a beautiful town with plenty of streams around it. Were thero not other desirable things the subsidy could lie spent on? The library hod to lie furnished with 'books, and that meant they would 'have to put their bauds in their pockets again. Could they not furnish the shelves by means of this subsidy?

Cr. Lancaster thought Levin should have baths, but said that it seemed a, lot of money to spend oveatwo years. He thought they should expend the payment over a longer period.

Cγ. H.inn.in was not opposed to swimming baths, hut lie was opposod to discussing the matter at that Me hour. They had the crudest infoiniatioji it was possible to Jay before a body of men. He thought it should have 'been submitted to a committee.

The Mayor: So it was. It was referred to the Finance Committee!

The. Town Clerk: They could not agree and referred it to the Council.

The Mayor: Precisely. A committee was, lie went on, appointed! over a year ago to go into the matter and the committee received iiir formation, among other places, from Taihape, Stratford, Hawera, oamani and Waimate.

Cr. Palmer wouldi take advantage of the grant I'oi , Ijat.lis .sincethey oo'iiJd not raise the loan and , spread it over a term.

Replying to the debate Cr. Mackenzie said that if the resolution were thrown out he was satisfied the pp.ODJc would demand the re-intro-duction of the resolution. The Mayor: ft will he too late then. He went on to say he would be sorry to see the motion put that evening and defeated, because it would tie said throughout the dominion Levin liad refused the subsidy and woii'ld not erect baths. Hβ was going to suggest if there were any likelihood' of seeing what the ratepayers thought of the matter. IT the resolution we.re defeated Unit evening the whole-thing would drop.

Cr. Math«-:)ii asked for more information. Apparently the matter had been thrashed out by the old; Council. Cr. Mackenzie: S:> it was! The resolution was then put wlien there voted:—For the resolution : The Mayor, Ci'H. Mackenzie and Palmer; against: Ors. Blenklionn, Franco, Lancaster, Aims, Maithcson and Hannan.

Cr. Palmer: Will you instruct the clerk to write to the Department and say that the off or is declined? Cγ. Hamian : Oh, no! . Tho Town Clerk: There is no other alternative. You won't get it after to-nright! The Council then rose at ton minutes to midnight.