WOMEN’S REST ROOMS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5068, 22 December 1926, Page 2

WOMEN’S REST ROOMS.

PAEROA AND WAIHI NECESSITIES. OHINEMURI COUNCIL DISCUSSION. At yesterday’s meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council the chairman (Cr. H. M. Corbett) introduced the question of rest-rooms, for women at Paeroa and Waihi. He w®js of the opinion that the borough councils should provide the facilities. Probably their finances were even slenderer than were the County Council’s Two wrongs did not make a right. The need for such facilities was keenly 'felt, and was increasing as the towns developed. He thought* the borough councils ( should be asked to proceed with the provision Of the restrooms, and in order to assist .them; and to show its sincerity in the matter, the Ohinemuri Council should offer a substantial donation to both ■ borough councils to carry out the work. Cr. Johnstone said that the Paeroa Borough Council had built a res.t- - room in the domain, which wias too . far out of the centre of the town to be of any great benefit to the public. Cr. Hubbard pointed out .that the rest-room had probably been provided out of loan money, and that it had to be erected at the domain. An ideal position for a, rest-rooin would be in or adjacent to the public library. Cr. Johnstone admitted that the , conveniences were necessary, but he 'failed to see why the ratepayers’ money should be used Jo provide such a building in the boroughs. Cr. Morrison agreed, and added thht if the rest-rooms were so necessary the townspeople should make their town attractive and provide the conveniences. It. was not fair to expect the man on the land to shoulder the burden. The chairman said, that the remarks of the last speaker were no solution ,to the difficulty. Cr. Johnstone said he would withdraw his opposition when, the wo,men of the district had clean' metal reads , to travel to the boroughs on. Cr. Hubbard said that it was hard to penalise women and childrep, who were the sufferers, and the majority Of them were ratepayers to the council. Cr. McGuire said that the restroom required to be centrally situated. The domain was too far away for a woman to visit when on a shopping expedition. It was also too far to drag young children. The chairman said that the boroughs should move in the njattetf, but little had been done; and it was the duty of the. County Council to push the matter. Cr. Robinson agreed that something should be done. He moved that the matter be referred to the chairman and Crs. Hubbard and Johnstone, with a view to waiting on the Paeroa Borough Council in connection with the matter, and in the event of the County Council donating over £25 towards the project, the County Council to havq ,a say in the selection of the site. The object of moving the resolution was. to test the matter without com- : mitting the council immediately. The Waihi and Waikino riding members* with the chairman; might also wait on the Waihi Borough Council. The chairman, in answer, to Cr. Johnstone; said that the necessity in the interests of the county’s ratepayers was greater than ever. Cr. Hubbard remarked that it wa><s a crying disgrace to the boroughs concerned that rest-rooms had not been provided long ago. The motion was seconded by Cr. McGuire and carried.