PUBLIC SWIMMING BATHS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3754, 14 February 1928, Page 2

PUBLIC SWIMMING BATHS.

ELECTRIC LIGHT TO BE INSTALLED. •

COUNCIL’S GENEROUS ASSIS-

TANGE,

A deputation from the Foxton Swimming Club consisting of the President (Mr. H. Hutchins), VicePresident (Air. J. K. Hornblow) and secretary (Mr. D. R. Barron), waited on the Borough Council last night with a request for financial assistance in connection with the installation of electric light and the providing of seating accommodation at the baths.

The President said the club desired the financial assistance of the Council with these two matters in order that the work might be carried out prior to the, Swimming Carnival which was to be held on the 25th of this month. The Club had no funds of its own, and was having a hard struggle to put the carnival on. As it was the Club would have to find about £9 for trophies, and if the event was not successful would find itself out of pocket. Carnivals' were necessary to promote the best interests of swimming as they attracted good swimmers to the town and gave the local swimmers encooragement to irnprovo their acquatie skill.

Ah’. J. K. Hornblow said the Club fully realised the good work of tho Council in connection with the baths and that they could not commit the ratepayers to any further expenditure than was absolutely necessary. If the baths were lit up, however, it would promote swimming locally and assist the Club. Alost towns provided lighting over their baths and in the evening opportunity was offered the public of attending carnivals and competitions. He believed that from a revenue point of view the installation of lights would materially assist both the Club and Council. If the Club were to become defunct the Council would, have to carry on such attractions, but the Club was anxious to relieve the Council as much as possible. The baths were only available for a short period each year, and Saturday was the only night available for the carnival on this occasion. The speaker stressed the great asset the baths were to the •town and said he believed that during this summer they had been responsible for the saving of at least one life from drowning. The Club was out to promote life saving and solicited the Council’s assistance. Mr. Barron said that the Mayor had been approached and had agreed to the Club holding the carnival on the night decided on. The Club desired to iristal three 1000 c.p. lights over the baths and a light outside and one in the office at a. cost of £l6 10s Od. Seating accommodation was also badly needed and the quotation for the work was £34 for four tiers of seats to accommodate 420 people. The Mayor said he was pleased to see the interest being'evinced in the baths and was anxious that lifesaving should be taught local swimmers. The Council had already done a great deal to carry out the wishes of the public in respect to the erection of the baths and had spent a good deal of money in so doing. The Council’s present financial position, however, precluded it from spending any more money on works that were not already provided for on the estimates. He was sympathetic to the Club’s request, but felt he could not recommend the Council to expend such a large sum of money as would be required to carry out the work. As it was, at the end of the season the Council would find itself faced with finding the caretaker’s salary of £SO. Atr Hutchins said that it was impossible to hold the sports on any day other than a Saturday owing to the majority of the swimmers having their half <lay on that day and even then the shorts could not commence before 8 o’clock, owing to numbers having to come from Wanganui, Feildiug and Palmerston N. The Mayor said the cost of the seating accommodation was surprising. The Council had a lot of timber which could be used for this work and they would be prepared to hanl this over to the Club. €r. Thompson considered more dressing accommodation was required before anything else was undertaken.

Cr. Spring was of opinion that it was now too late in the season to instai the lights. Mr Hornblow said he was sure any sum spent on lighting the baths would be returned four-fold. The Club would be in an awkward fix if ■the Council refused to assist with the lights owing to arrangements having been made for the carnival. When the water asd drainage loan was carried in 1912 provision had been made for baths but this had not been rekuired as the money had subsequently been.subscribed by the public: He suggested that the question of Seating be held over in the meantime and that the lights be installed immediately. The Mayor endorsed the secretary’s remarks in reference to the fixing of the date. He had agreed to that date. Mr Hutchins also referred to the fact that the Council would receive 3d on every ticket sold at the carnival. The carnival was held after the usual hours and he .thought it was hardly fair that the Club should have to hand over 3d per ticket to the Council. However, he thanked the Council for hearing the deputation, which then witdrew. The matter was then further discussed by the Council.

Cr. Spring said the town was not properly lit up as it was and more expenditure was necessary in this respect. He was opposed to the electric light being installed in tho baths. ■ • ■; The Town Clerk said the lighting proposed would cost the Council about 1/- per hour. Cr. Spring: I’m against it. ' Cr. Ross then moved, seconled by Cr. Walker, that the Club be granted £l6 10/- for the isstallation of electric light at the baths, as per quotation submitted, the money not to be paid over until the work is completed. ’ ' j ■,% Cr. Parkin said that he was not opposed to the motion, but he certainly was opposed to swimming carnivals being held on Saturlay nights in opposition to the pictures ; Cr. Lucinsky: The Town Hall is more to us than the baths. We should not commit the ratepayers to any more expenditure than we are up against at present. The Mayor: We must cater for those who don’t go to the pictures. He was of opinion that in future the Club would work in with the picture nights. Cr. Ross considered the carnival would not affect the pictures. The /Councillors did not want to be too narrow, he said. ; •The motion was then put and carried, Crs. Lucinsky and Spring voting against.