PROPOSED SWIMMING BATHS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1985, 3 June 1919, Page 3

PROPOSED SWIMMING BATHS.

J * DISCUSSED BY SCHOOL COM.X" MITTEE. The question of the construction of swimming baths was discussed at last night’s meeting of the School Committee. The Mayor (Mr Chrystall) was in attendance, and briefly outlined steps' that had already been taken by the Borough Council in this connection. The Council had applied to the Harbour Board for a site near the Rowing Club’s boat shed, but this had been refused by the Board on the ground that the proposed site would eventually he required for warehouse and distributing store sites. The Board, however, had offered them a site on the river front just opposite the Pound Collage. The main question was: Was the site now proposed a suitable one? Personally he believed that I lie baths should be con - structed as near to the centre of the town as was practicable—it was bettor to bring the baths to the people than attempt to bring the people to the baths. The site offered was a very suitable one, as far as the filling and emptying of the baths was concerned, lint it was away from the centre of the town, and he would like the opinion of the Committee on the question of its suitability. He thought the Council would accept the site offered. The Chairman said the Committee had had the idea for some time of putting the baths on or near the school property. He considered the site proposed by the Harbour Board was too far away for school purposes. The site that the Committee

had in view was on portion of the

old Maori Cemetery ground, but they recognised to put (he baths in there would lie a big proposition, as the question of pumping fur fill-

ing the baths would have to be taken into account. Mr Coley bad said that he could raise £-150 for the

purpose of installing baths for the, school, and this amount, with the.

subsidy, would be sufficient to const ru (it the baths, hut the question of the cost of pumping would first have to be considered. Mr Fume said that on school

baths there was a capitation allow-

ance of 2s (id for ;ill children from Standard TV. upwards. It would be aboslutely necesary to have a caretaker for the baths.

In answer to it question by Mr Chrystall, the Chairman said thq opinion of the Committee was that the river site proposed was too far awa.t for school purposes.

After some further discussion, it Wits decided, on the motion of Mi

Alexander, seconded by Mr Claris, that the proposed site at the end of

Main Street is not practicable from the view of usefulness for the

school children, and this Committee strongly urges the Borough Council to consider the advisability of constructing the baths adjacent to the school.