BLUE BATH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 118, 11 January 1932, Page 4

BLUE BATH

In our issue of Friday last we published a letter from a eorrespondent signing himself "Visitor" in which the suggestion was made that, in view of the present financial conditions the immediate completion of the Blue Bath building is not justfied. This morning we publish replies to "Visitor" by two correspondents who go right to the point. As we have repeatedly pointed out, the complete Blue /Bath scheme will probably prove one of the most popular of the attractions provided by the Government in Rotorua and neither the Government nor the town can afford-' to delay its completion a day longer than is unavoidable. In times such as these a public works policy of "far niente," of do nothing, which is really what "Visitor's" . suggestion means, would result only in harm, intensif ying the Tinemployment problem and further shaking the already excessively weakened public confidence. Had "Visitor" given the matter a little more carel'ul consideration he would, no doubt, have expressed himself differently. What is needed and expected of the Government is a public works policy of intelligent enterprise ensuring that what money is available is expended on works which will justify themselves economically. The Blue Bath is definitely in this class, as is proved by the immediate popularity of the minor section which has been completed. Our eorrespondent makes a further suggestion that if the wqrk is to proceed, it should be carried out by contract rather than by day labour, as likely to prove more economical. This aspect of the question we do not propose to discuss at present. It is part of the wide question of economy of method the need for which is obvious. From the point of view of economy; the suspension of the work at the present stage would be worse than foolish. It is felementary that the continual stopping and starting of an undertaking of this kind merely results in heav ily increasing costs without any compensating benefits. In the present case such a procedure would merely add to the unnecessary expense under this head which already has been incurred. The decision to re-commence work this morning will therefore be eommended by everyone capable of grasping the essentials of the situation. But the economic, though perhaps the most important is not the only reason why the Blue Bath scheme must be completed. The people of Rotorua are fully alive to the value to the town of the new baths and they would not silently see the work either suspended or abandoned. When completed they will unquestionably be one of the town's greatest assets and now that it has been proved that they will also definitely be an asset to the Tourist Department, any proposal to delay the work further would be most strenuously resisted.