THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 1922. SWIMMING BATH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4363, 9 January 1922, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 1922. SWIMMING BATH.

Paeroa ’needs, among other facilities, a swimming bath. During the long period of hot weather the lack of a public bath where young folk and adults might indulge in one of the most heathful of all exercises is very noticeable. Of course, it is the ever-present problem of finance again, but as every parent must be desirous of having children taught the graceful and invigorating art of swimming—a lifesaving art—the numbers interested should be a good help towards the financial side of the question. There would be some difficulty in respect to the water supply, but not nearly so much trouble is likely to be encountered in this respect as has been met with and overcome in other centres less favourably endowed by Nature with natural streams. Then there is the question of a site. In some towns in England the swimming bath is made to serve a dual purpose; a hall and bath are combined, the walls of the bath being the foundations of the hall. In New Zealand such a structure would be used as a hall from May to September, inclusive; the movable floor would then be taken up for the bathing season, October to April, inclusive. But this proposition is probably not in the range of practicality in Paeroa just now, as there are no funds in sight for a municipal hall and kindred buildings. However, it is very apparent that with over four hundred children attending the local educational institution, to say nothing of the general adult public, there is much need of a swimming bath. As a rule, swimming baths pay interest and sinking fund and costs of maintenance and caretaking out of revenue received ; the initial cost is the difficulty. Under certain conditions the Board of Education finds part of the cost of construction, proper arrangements being made- for the scholars tense the bath, and -the local body and the general public supplies the balance; but owing to the existing financial situation in the country at large it would probably be difficult to secure Government or Education Board assist-

ance at present. In any case, there is no likelihood of a bath being provided this year, but the matter might well be taken in hand now, and a sustained effort made to find the necessary funds to pay for the building of a swimming bath and the necessary water supply and equipment by next summer. The subject is of general interest, and the “Gazette” would be pleased to publish any expressions of opinion—especially helpful suggestions—that any of our readers might favour us with.