PUBLIC SWIMMING BATHS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2844, 10 February 1925, Page 3

PUBLIC SWIMMING BATHS.

MAYOR SPRING-S SURPRISE ON COUNCIL. 1 QUESTIONABLE AND DEVIOUS PROCEDURE.. TRENCHANT CRITICISM BY CRS. SMITH AND ROSS. At last night’s Borough Council meeting His Worship the Mayor moved the following motion : “That (lie standing orders governing the rescinding of resolutions be waived in (his instance to deal with the question of swimming baths.” In moving the motion, the Mayor said that ho wanted to rescind the motion' on the hooks of 14th January, 1924, fixing the site for the baths as over the Awahou Drain. It would cost £1,160 to carry out this work. '■ Cr. Smith asked if by supporting this motion he was in any way committing himself. The Mayor reassured Cr Smith (hat he was in no way doing so and stated 1 that he merely wished to discuss the matter. The motion was then put and car-' ried unanimously. SITE OF BATHS TO BE ALTERED The Mayor then further moved, seconded by Cr. Bryant, pro forma, “that resolution No. 10, dated the 14/1/24. be rescinded and that the site for the baths shall be on solid ground instead of being built over the drain but clear of the playing area on Easton Park. That a loan proposal to borrow the sum of £l,400 be placed before the ratepayers as soon as possible.” This caused something of a stir in the up-till-now placid proceedings of the evening’s business. In speaking to the motion the Mayor said that his reason for bringing -up the matter was TO KEEP A PROMISE he had made during his term of office, and to fall in with the idea put forward for the location of the baths. The ratepayers decided on Easton Park as a site, and he would support it. The cost of construction of baths on that site wobe £1,160 (Air Edward’s estimate). Cr. Thompson: We haven’t got it. The Mayor: Well I am doing my part. Let the ratepayers decide the matter. ELEVENTH HOUR.PROPOSAL Cr Smith said that he was in favour of swimming baths being erected bui he objected to the proposal being “swung on” at the eleventh hour by the Mayor. There would only be one or (wo more meetings of the present Council, and he was of opinion that the whole matter, erection of swimming baths, rest room and public library, should be held over for the consideration of the in-coming councillors. The majority of this Conned being opposed to a loan for a rest, room and public library the whole matter should he left to the incoming Council He would vote against the motion on these ground's.

> NOT GENTTINE. Cr. lloss said he was of the same opinion as Or. Smith. This matter should have been threshed out, before now. The Mayor’s excuse for dealing with the matter now just to carry out a promise he had made was not genuine. The Mayor: I must ask yon to withdraw that remark, Or. Ross. Clr. Ross: The matter should have been brought up before. This was merely putting the matter before the ratepayers with a view to having it turned down. The Mayor: That is not so. Cr. Ross said he would be agreeable for baths to be placed on any site the majority decided on, but was not in favour of putting the matter before the ratepayers in its present state. The matter had been left too long, and should now be left to the new Council.' ' ONLY “A MINOR THING.” Cr. Thompson said he was not opposed to the erection of baths but considered the matter should have been started before now. This Council, however, had tried to complete- the water and drainage work, and “this minor thing” had been, held over. The matter should be considered by the new Council. The thing that had brought him on to the Council ten to twelve years ago was the question of swimming baths. Cr. Walker said he was opposed to the erection of baths on Easton Park, but would support a motion for their erection in the Council yard. MAYOR MAKES AMENDS The Mayor said he was surprised at Crs Smith and Ross raising the point they had. Surely they would not “deprive a man the right to make ameqds even at the eleventh hour.” Councils come and go, but ratepayers go on for ever. It didn’t matter what had been put before them, water and drainage had had first place and his object had been to complete this work. Cr. Ross: The position is just the same as it was six months ago. The Mayor: Yes and whose fault? Continuing, he said he did not want to go out of office with his promise unfulfilled. Cr. Bryant said he was surprised at Crs Ross and Smith. This was not .a matter for the Mayor alone to deal with, but for the whole Council. If these two Councillors had been of the ojpinion that the matter should have been dealt with before,'why didn’t they bring the matter up? , . Crs Smith and Rosfs: We did. six months ago, and it was turned down. The Mayor: That is not correct. Be fair, Cr. Smith.

The Town Clerk then looked Hie ma I ter up and it was found that a motion for the erection of public library and rest room and swimming baths had been brought up at (lie time referred to. The Mayor said that that was not, Hie same as his motion. Cr. Smith said that he had moved tlmt a poll be taken for swimming baths and public library and rest room, two separate issues. Cr. Bryant said ho was against baths being erected on Easton Park hut would vote for them anywhere else. MOTION DEFEATED. The motion was then put, and defeated, the Mayor alone voting for. The Mayor said he would now move a motion setting the site out as the Council yard. Cr. Walker: I’ll support you there.

Crs. Bryant and Walker then moved : “That resolution No. 10/284, dated the 14/1/24 he rescinded and that the site for the baths shall be a t the rear of the Council Chambers, and that a loan proposal to borrow .the sum of £1,400 as soon as possible he taken.” OR. SAITTiI PROTESTS. Cr. Smith: I protest against that motion. I ask for notice of— The Mayor: It’s quite all right. Cr. Smith: You said I wasn’t committing myself when we rescinded the motion. You don’t get me like that. We waived the standing orders to discuss the matter not to' decide the- question. I object to this matter. The question should not be brought up without notice of motion. The Mayor: You asked if you were committing yourself to rescind the standing orders. Cr. Smith: I was under a misapprehension then. The Mayor: I rule the mdtion in order. “NOT A FAIR RUN.” Cr. Ross said he did not think the motion 'should be put. He was not opposed to baths, but the site was. a very sore point and should he left, in the hands o'f the ratepayers. It was prejudicing the poll by stating the she. A straight out loan should be asked for and the Mayor would be doing all he had promised to do. The matter could not he handled hv this Council. It was not a fair run. A LITTLE INCONSISTENCY. Cr. Smith said that he would like tc point out a little inconsistency on the part of the Mayor. A meeting of ratepayers directed the Mayor to take a loan for baths, rest room and public library, and expressly laid down the site — The Mayor: You’re out of order. Cr. Smith: A further motion was moved approving of, a new site, which you • voted against as you said the ratepayers had laid down a site. Now you go against the rntepayers. The Mayor: You’re absolutely out of Cr. Smith (taking no notice of the Mayor's persistent interruptions): The two proposals should go before the ratepayers at the beginning of the season as the poll stands a belter chance then of being carried. Cr. Walker: A poll should be taken at the end of the season, so that there would lie about 12 months in which to erect the hath.s if the loan is carried. Cr. Thompson: The public has been misled on the site question, favouring Easton Parle in the belief' that they would get tepid baths if placed there. The Mayor:. You can leave the matter safely to the ratepayers. Cr. Ross: But you are not doing that. , The. motion was then put and carried, Ci's. Ross, Smith and Parkin voting against, and the Mayor, and Crs. Bryant, Walker, and Thompson for. The Mayor then moved: “That notice be. given that the Council proposes for the purpose of constructing public swimming baths, at the rear of the Council Chambers, to raise a special loan of £1,400 at a iate of interest not exceeding six per cent, per annum, with a sinking fund not exceeding one per cent; ami for the purpose of providing for the repayment of the loan, ahd for the payment of interest charges thereon, to appropriate and pledge as security a special rate of one farthing in the £ on the rateable value of all the rateable property in the borough of Foxton; such rate to lie an annually recurring rate during the currency of the loan, and to be made and levied by resolution of the Council to be passed after the said special loan has been agreed to by the ratepayers. The whole of the loan is to be repaid at the expiry of seven years from the date of raising of same. It is proposed to pay the cost of raising the loan and. the first year’s interest out of the loan money.” This was seconded by Cr. Bryant. CR. SMITH HITS OUT. *

Cr. Smith (,to the Mayor) : I protest against the way in which you conduct the business of this ’Council. One Councillor is away tonight. who might have made all the difference on this question. The matter was sprung on without any notice and I think you might have, taken Councillors into your confidence. The motion was then put and carried, Crs Ross, Smith and Parkin voting against and the Mayor and Crs. Bryant, Thompson and Walker for it. SPECIAL MEETING CONVENED Crs. Smith, Ross and Parkin have convened a special meeting of the Council to he held on Friday night for the purpose of passing a resolution that a poll be taken on the question of erecting a library rest-room etc. similar to that of the baths, but as a seperate issue.