SWIMMING BATHS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4368, 20 January 1922, Page 3

SWIMMING BATHS.

Sir,—l have looked in vain for opinions from, the residents of this town as requested in your article on the subject "Swimming Batns in Paeroa.” I do not like to think the people here do not want swimming baths, but the matter has apparently been allowed to drop. Do we want a swimming bath in Paeroa? I say “Yes, most decidedly, and for many reasons.” First of all, swimming is absolutely the .most beneficial exercise for the healthy development of mind and body, and, therefore, physical fitness. Physical* fitness brings about efficiency, and efficiency again results in good citizenship.' There are approximately 400 children attending the local school. How many of these children can swim 50 yards ? Dealing with the school Children first, would it not be hn innovation to see, say, 100 girls marching to the swimming bath weekly in the mornings and about the same number of boys in the afternoon, each paying a small admission ifee ? This could easily be carried out from October to the end of March, and be quite a revenue, apart from the number of adults who would take advantage of a decent swimming pool. I remember at my old school, when the boys of Standards 3,4, 5, 6 1 and 7 used to march to the baths every Tuesday afternoon during the summer months, and .we were all swimmers and were experts in artificial respiration in a very short period. Many lives 'have been needlessly lost owing to persons not being able to swim;, and also to ignorance of artificial respiration or the “bringing to” of half drowned

people. The necessity for a swimming bath in Paeroa is so 'obvious that it hardly calls for opinions on the subject, and I would like the powers that be to give serious consideration to the same, with a view, if necessary >qf calling a meeting of ratepayers, or to take a vote for or against a loan to meet the expenditure connected witn the erection of the baths if approved. There is no doubt that the baths should be quite a public concern, and be built tty the ratepayers of the borough. We owe it to the children, because we have hot yet provided anything for them in the town, even if we do not consider the. adults. EFFICIENCY.