SWIMMING BATHS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5090, 18 February 1927, Page 3

SWIMMING BATHS.

CONSIDERATION BY COUNCIL. LOCATION DISCUSSED. At the invitation of the members of the Paeroa Borough Council 14 members representing the parishioners of. St. Paul's Church attended a special meeting of the council on Wednesday night to discuss the site for the proposed municipal swimming The Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) explained at length the steps necessary to formally close that portion of Wood Street which i,t was proposed to close for the utilisation of the area for swimming baths. Mr W. J. Towers said that it was not the wish of the vestry to discuss the matter at that stage, but they . would prefer to deal with the matter on receipt the proposals in writing from the council. In answer to Mr C. N. O’Neill the Mayor said that it was proposed to utilise a site about a chain beyond the boundary of the church property. After some discussion the members of the council withdrew to enable the church representatives to discuss the matter. After about half an hour, the chairman of the vestry stated that the . vestry was in accord with the council’s desire to erect the swimming baths, and tentatively to the closing o'f the street, but required the council t° give special consideration to the ■site. The vestry would meet again as soon as the eouncil forwarded plans of, the baths and pegged out the proposed location. The Mayor thanked the vestry for attending, and also for the decision arrived at. The delegates then withdrew. The special committee set up to go into the proposal to take a poll of ratepayers to erect municipal swimming baths brought down a report, which stated that written information had been obtained ’from the boroughs of Thames, Morrinsville, and Pukekohe, and that Cr. Silcock had visited the Auckland and Waihi baths and interviewed the persons in charge in each place and obtained a good deal of information. As a result of these investigations it was agreed to recommend that if the proposal was proceeded with, the bat,h should be 100 ft long by 40ft wide with a depth of water 3ft 6in at one end to Bft 6in at, the otherwith dressing-rooms and sanitary conveniences, at each end an office at the front, and an Bft fence on each side. Sufficient width would be provided on one side for, a gallery for spectators. The proposed bath would be of concrete plastered with cement, having three lines of white tiles along the bottom for contest purposes, with iron ladders at each corner and a concrete floor Bft wide all round the bath. The, walls of the rooms would be covered with corrugated iron and coniform in height with the fence. The bath itself would not be rpoofed. Arrangements could be included for electric lighting. The committee unanimously decided to recommend the use, if possible, of the unformed portion of Wood Street lying between Arney Street and Victoria Street, placing the bath as near to Wood Street as possible, having economy in construction costs. The committee recommended placing before the ratepayers a proposal to raise a loan of £2OOO ’for the purpose of erecting swimming baths for a period of 36% years, with a. sinking fund of 1 per cent, per annum. -This would require a collection of an annually recurring special rate o’f %d in the £ on all rateable property in t,he borough on the basis of the unimproved value. It was estimated that in addition to the interest and sinking fund the annually recurring expenditure would amount to approximately £75, based on the experience of other boroughs. Tne annual income was estimated at approximately £7O. These figures were based on the assumption that satisfactory arrangements would be made with the Ohinemuri County Council in regard to water supply. The committee recommended that, in the event of this obtaining, and if •no capitation grant being made by the Education Department for swimming, all children in charge of school teachers should be, granted free use Of the baths during school mornings. It was also suggested that the proposition should be submitted to the N.Z. Swimming Association for its approval. The Mayor said that the council was indebted to Cr. Silcock for the work he had put into the matter. The question of a site was a difficult one, and the location suggested was ideal, but if opposition to it was to be raised the council would be faced with an added difficulty. The estimate had been carefully prepared, and h a d been largely gauged on the baths, provided in adjacent towns. In preparing the estimates consideration had been given to the desirability of making Paeroa the centre for swimming carnivals. In answer to Cr. Pinder Cr. Silcock said that he had it on the best authority that Bft 6in was an ideal depth for the baths, and was l%ft deeper .than the baths in Auckland. t After a brief discussion Cr. Flatt ;tnoved the adoption of the report, and said that if there were going to be baths he hoped they would be up-to-date and in keeping with the progress of the town. Cr. Pinder, in seconding the motion, said he .thought that the depth was excessive but he was not going t° quibble over the matter. He hoped that the project would receive hearty support, and that the baths would be a credit to the town. Cr. Hare and Porritt paid a tribute to the work Of Cr. Silcock and his colleagues, each of whom had given considerable time and work in procuring the particulars. Cr. Brenan pointed out that the -adoption cf the report did not necessarily mean that the site suggested ■yould be used or the baths built. The Mayor explained the steps, to •be taken to give effect to the repbrt .of the committee, and pointed out -that a magistrate would have to hear

objections, and he could overthrow any decision reached bj- the council and authorised by the ratepayers. It would take approximately 12 weeks before t,he street in question could be dosed. The Mayor moved that the committee be asked to go into the question of t,he site for 1 the baths with the church people. Cr. Hare seconded. Cr. Edwards said the vestry desired to have seme assurance that the baths would not be open during church hours. The Mayor moved that the council bring down by-laws governing t,he hc.urs of opening the baths on Sundays. Seconded by Cr. Edwards, and carried. It was recommended that the hours for Sunday bathing should be from 8.30 to 10.30 a.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m.