Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1902. Swimming Baths.

Manawatu Herald, 1 February 1902, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1902. Swimming Baths.

It seems astonishing the Apathy shown by both the Borough Council and the ratepayers upon the t|uestion of public swimming baths. In the middle of winter such forgetfulness might be pardoned, but with the return of warm days with a beautiful river flowing past the town and the occasional trip to the sea beach, the desirableness of public baths must be apparent to ahy one-, fetid a pushing public mad Would have secured the erection of one before now. Wo need an earthquake, similar to the one Cheviot has experienced, to wake the public up to their lost opportunities, and their duty to their neighbour. A few males who can go to the boatshed and ■ have a dive in the river think that all that is necessary has been provided, because, forsooth, they are able to take advantage of these conveniences, but a little reflection will convince them this is an intensely selfish view to taka, as the conveniences afforded them are not open to women or children, and are only available for men early in the morning or late in the evening. A look at the river on a warm day causes a yearning for a bathe which cannot be obtained, and if - it does in men how much more must it do with women.

The omission to supply this want is the more annoying as it is so easily obtainable if the Councillors Would only move in the matter. The Council has full power to carry out such necessary work, and all that is needed, and unfortunately for the advancement of the borough, so frequently needed, is a little energy. Prom those to whom it is a trouble to move, we will get the same old cry, that there is no convenient place on the river for a bathing enclosure, well we assert that a very good place can be obtained, but as we do not wish to claim expert knowledge on the subject, we have advocated a professional opinion being obtained. An honest desire to carry out the work would bring proof of its feasibility, and the cost to the public would be less than £lO a year. We play some strange tricks with our local finance so that an outlay of such a small sum for the benefit of all the ratepayers for say, even three months in a year appears most justifiable.

Health is being impressed upon us by Acts of Parliament, and by Government Inspectors, and cleanliness in all our surroundings are being inforced, but the greatest help to both cleanliness and Godliness is utterly neglected. Those accustomed to their daily dip will enlarge, and rightly so, on the delicious feeling of freshness obtained by these means, and we know, to children, the water is the most powerful magnet of attraction. The Government,' without whose guidance and approval a great many people and public bodies fear to move, have marked their approval of children being early trained to love the water by offering prizes for competition amongst the scholars of the public schools, contests in which many schools situated inland have from the more go-ahead action of public or private enterprise, been able to take a part, whilst the children of Foxton, residing on the banks of one of !l::- in the Colony and

four miles from the Ocean beach, are unable to do. Parents failing to stir their representatives on the Council may some day have occasion to mourn the omission, by the loss of a dear one in the waters of a river which is a blessing to those who have studied how to use it. The Maori inhabitants are not so foolish, as in past years men, women and children fully appreciated the advantages and enjoyment of bathing, and the very smallest could swim like ducks. We contend that our children are likewise circumstanced and would prove their ability to con tost _ with all comers, swimming and diving events, if their parents, instead of warning them off the water on account of the present unsafe conditions in using it, demanded safe and proper places being made at the public expense;

Our Councillors, We are sure, Understand the position, but they loan too much on the hope the Mayor will propose something; and as to this we are able to state that nothing may be expected that Way, aa His Worship informed us that he was ready to do his best to carry out the resolutions of the Council, but he did not look upon its being his duty to initiate anything, and he did not intend to. Thus we are compelled, in the best interests of the borough, to urge soma Councillor to be patriotic enough to take this Question dp and to carry it to success. We feel sure that he Would have the majority of the ratepayers strong support. Wo have been accustomed to note all nublic matters wore generally brought before a Council by the Mayor, but in the face of our Mayor’s view of his duty, we feel sure he would not resent a Councillor moving in the matter.