SWIMMING BATHS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5117, 22 April 1927, Page 2

SWIMMING BATHS.

MAYOR EXPLAINS HIS ATTITUDE

POLL ON WEDNESDAY NEXT.

In conjunction w4,th the municipal election, which is to be held on Wednesday next, a, poll of ratepayers will also be taken on a proposal to raise £2OOO for the purpose of erecting municipal swimming baths at Paeroa. At tlie meeting of tlie Paeroa Bor-, ough Council last night Cr. J. W. Silcock asked if it .was intended to send out any circular appeal to ratepayers to support the proposal He also said that following on the remarks of the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) at tire last meeting of the Chamber of Commerce a local subsequently appeared in the “Gazette.” He thought that there was a possibility of the Mayor’s attitude with regard to the baths influencing ratepayers against the proposal. For the benefit pf the public he asked the Mayor if he would be good enough to again state his attitude.

In reply to the request the Mayor said that had he known the matter was to be again brought forward, in fairness to himself and the local press he would have liked to have had time to prepare a written statement. However, he was quite willing to again state his attitude to the proposal, which was that swimming baths were most desirable in every way, and if possible should be provided. In view, h owe ver, of the present financial stress and the difficulty many ratepayers were having in meeting their rates, he felt that he could not urge ratepayers to support the loan. He wished to state the facts -fairly, which were that in the unanimous opinion of the sub-commi,ttee the best that could be hoped for was that the income would balance working expenses, leaving the ratepayers to find the interest and sinking fund amounting to £l4O a year. If the proposal was carried he would be delighted to know that Paeroa would have baths, and as leader of the council he would do everything possible to help forward the carrying out of the proposal. Cr. Silcock thanked the Mayor for his explanation, which, he said, was acceptable.