CORRESPONDENCE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3594, 3 February 1927, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

SWIMMING BATHS. Sir. —The public swimming baths should have been established long ago in our town. While not a very strong advocate for municipal control, there are certain institutions that must necessarily be controlled by the public, and undoubtedly a swimming bath is one of them. Public. men have a public duty to perform and if they do not do so then such men should retire and allow men who have a proper grasp of matters that come within the category of public business, to take office. The ratepayers should see that only men of ordinary vision occupy the position of Cnncillors. I would further point out that it is not the business of Councillors, except possibly where a Councillor may have the special knowledge as a professional man, to go info technical matters, and I am inclined to think some of the Councillors do so. I think it is obvious that the site at the back of the Council Chamber is quite unsuitable for a public bath for several reasons; the ground is weak and certainly does not provide the strength for a foundation for a great weight. Again, it is obvious that to build woncrete walls above the level of the of the ground is going to cost considerably more money than it would do if built on a solid part of Easton Park, the site chosen at a public meeting. As to the water being obtained at a less cost than at Easton Park, is a doubtful proposition. In my opinion artesian water will require pumping at either site as such (lows are always too slow to allow of a bath to be filled within the time available. I strongly advise Councillors to go right on with the work. The anxious public have handsomely provided the money, so why this delay? It is a great pity that the baths are not now established for three reasons: Ist, for health; secondly, for the reason that every child should know how to swim; thirdly, Foxton must not be without the attraction of a good swimming institution which almost every small town possesses. Yours etc., ' RATEPAYER.