"OUR BEAUTIFUL BEACHES"

NZ Truth, Issue 1108, 24 February 1927, Page 6

"OUR BEAUTIFUL BEACHES"

Scandal of Primitive Provision For Summer Bathers

'/ (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) What the City Council spent on advertising the Queen City ancl its surrounding a ttractions' m the N.Z! number of the London ''Times,'' may some day be made known to the ratepayers, but not with any undue h aste. , '

BUT while the summer is with us.it is an appropriate time to remind the city councillors^ — and those of the marine suburbs— that there is little use m blowing off hot-air about the wonderful beaches with which Nature has endowed the people if they are not made more attractive "to "those ', who would disport themselves m the briny, To quote the London "Times," under the heading: "Auckland; New Zealand's Largest City," there appears the following: "On the coast-line there are beaches and bays Innumerable, where m summer, recuperation after the heat of the day may. be obtained.'.' There are. But how many local or city councillors ever frequent them to indulge in' the healthful, pastime of surfing or bathing, and. how many ever seriously consider the needs of those who do "" appreciate such innocent pleasures?. i To judge by the accommodation* provided— -practically none. ' "N.Z. Truth" has before now drawn attention, to the -/very.'' feeble apology for changing, ; sheds at the Parneil baths, which are riothing*better than iron ovens when the sun m shining, and about as Crude ."..-;. v

and rough as anything which goes by the ; name of shed well can be. Is it possible to shame the. councillors into taking notice by relating the plain facts regarding .the shed which is set aside

ior menr " . .*— ••""•• .: ■ -,~~ The roof is unlined, the walls inside or out ai'e devoid of paint, the shbwevsv are. of the most primitive order, while the floors— -which are of smooth concrete—are a positive menace to any person with;'bar,e. -feet ■•' when they are wet, which, of course, is generally the case. : ' . -,' , V "*".-'■■ i ; .•• .' ■ ..■..■.'.■,■■■'■■ During the height of the summer season, and more ; particularly on Saturday or Sunday, the accommodation is quite inadequate and unpleasant crowding prevails. • Year succeeds 'year, but there is as yet no sign that the civic/ fathers have taken a tumble to their duty m the case 'of thepe baths, Avhich are frequented by a vast number of bathers from the eastern suburbs. We have no actual figures as to what the yearly income from the 1 baths may be, but it is no exaggeration to say that 'if all municipal enterprises were as .self-supporting at -the. ■ Parneil baths there would be no debit balance to tlie cit3 r 's discredit. : On the North Shore the state of things is not much better — -m some cases it is even worse. It would seem that some of the local councils grant a monopoly ! to one individual^ to provide a changing shed which adjoins his tea kiosk (sonamed) and authorise him to make a charge., .'." ':''■■/

If other places permit Ayould-be bathers to use an outhouse';!tb : change m, though they may make rib charge for so doing, they are 'liable to lose their license as purveyors of tea and cakes. The result is, as m the case of Milford, that there is a long stretch of beach with one totally Inadequate little shed — and that thanks "only to private enterprise. ; : Such is the state of things, m fact, that many children arid; even adults who are keen to bathe make use of' one of Jthe corrugated -iron' structures' with which so rriany councils 'decorate their boasted waterfronts, but which nre intended for very different purposes. V To put the matter mildly, the- v apathy of the majority of local " bodies m regard to bathing accom? modation is nothing short of scandalous. . v , If they have not sufficient realisation of their responsibilities ' as, councillorswhom the ratepayers have, b.een foolish" enough to place m authority, it might be imagined that they > would have, sufficient pride m the. district they represent to make some really concerted.

'effort to provide clean,' picturesque and adequate structures for those ' who are still young enough to enjoy the open sea and the fresh air. It would certainly ,meet with more, general approval than the passing of

pettiioggmg and Gilbertian regulations as to costumes, sun-bathing, etc.; for the number of prurient-minded who might make any beach unwholesome with their presence is small and easily dealt with by existing laws. The truth of the matter is that far too many councils are overloaded with senile mugwumps and wowsers whose only, knowledge of , water— or .the possible pleasure it may provide— is limited to their Saturday night bath. '' f So long as municipal politics are left to those who have ; retired from their ;■ own business either through old age or sheer good luck, there ' is not likely to be any very- great change -in the wide difference' m outlook between those who are, '.•alive with' youth and the enjoyment of life, and those who have reached the, pendulous age and are gratified with the mere' fact that they are entitled to be called a councillor. -..;■•• '•'; .-. ■■■.-' But with waste going on., m practically every civic body— waste : which does 'no good to any but those who directly .-participate m the recognised "greasing"— it is one of the mockeries of the "Winterless' North" that there.is barely a beach which -has given full recognition to the. fact that it- is a municipal duty to provide decent accommodation for those .wiho- like a dip. And 'yet these: same- beaches form one of the favorite subjects of hot-air broadcasting, when "■"' councillors' are boosting their local attractions.