POINT CHEVALIER BATHS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 192, 3 November 1927, Page 17

POINT CHEVALIER BATHS

Council’s Regrettable Policy CLEAN SPORT NOT ENCOURAGED “Dog-in-the-Manger Attitude’’ DECIDING after thorough investigation that the Auckland City Council has no intention of building swimming baths themselves the Government has again granted a permit to Dixieland, Limited, to construct a modern anc up-to-date swimming bath at Point Chevalier. The development of clean, healthy sport, however, apparently does not meet with the approval of the Parks Committee of the City Council, who have again decided to oppose the carrying out of the proposal.

IT is to be regretted that the Parks Committee, with F. Brinsden as chairman, should see fit to continue its policy of intimidation of the Dixieland Company, under the cloak of protecting the public interests. In the first instance the company has invested more capital in land and buildings than the City Council, and has been the means of increasing land values 100 per cent, at Point Chevalier, and, generally speaking, putting Point Chevalier on the map, by attracting manv thousands of people; in fact, in one day the council buses collected no less than 15,000 fares to the Point, aside from five other bus companies, who were carrying passengers, and who were then unabie to cope with the traffic. SWIMMERS EMPHATIC PROTEST Hearty disapproval of the council’s attitude in attempting to 111-event the scheme being carried out, lias been expressed by practically all the swimming organisations in Auckland. Discussing the Question at a meeting held on May 30. the Auckland centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association recorded a very emphatic protest against the attitude adopted by the council. The chairman. Mr. T. C. I-lobb-Jones, said that if the construction of the baths were permitted they would be the finest open-air baths in Australia or New Zealand, Ti e pool would prove a "l-eat aid to the development of the sport in Auckland and he fejt sure the proposal of Dixieland Limited would have the practical support and assistance of the centre and the swimming public of Auckland. “The centre,” he said, “wished to forward the cause, of swimming and life-saving, and was most emphatically not supporting the council’s dog-in-the-manger attitude.” “The facilities offered in the plans would have the support of all swimmers " said Mr. W. J. Gibbons, the Dargaville delegate. He stressed the provisions for diving, which were superior to any other available at the present. Ho considered it would be one of the best things swimmers could have and it would fill a want that had been’ felt for years. IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED 1 The position regarding bathing faci- ! lities at the Point, previous to the com- ! pany were such that bathers were I compelled to undress in tile park. The ! company, seeing the necessity, coni structed proper dressing quarters to i accommodate 1,500 persons. "With the increased-patronage of the i masses to the Point, which, after all, 1 is the only beach within close prox- ! imity of the city, it was readily seen 1 the necessity for a bathing pool, as I thousands would visit the Point at week-ends, which, after all, is their I half-liolidav. to find the tide a halfmile away. necessitating wading I through mud to the channel, with the

exception of a favourable tide once a fortnight. The company then made application to the Government for a permit to construct a pool, which was granted after thorough investigation as to the site, and necessity for same. The company then ordered some thousands of pounds* worth of material for construction purposes, and in the meantime the City Council sought an injunction restraining the company from constructing baths in front of their property. The only grounds on which the City Council asked the court to interfere with the Order-in-Council was that the erection of baths in the position intended would interfere with the access of small boats to the boundary of the council’s property, and in, the course of the litigation suggested that if the company wanted to erect baths it should do so opposite its own property. The court granted an injunction on the ground that the baths would constitute a legal infringement of the riparian rights of the council. PROVISION FOR CHILDREN The company then made further application to the Government, pointing out the intention of building the bath in front of their own property, 60 feet out, in the mud, so as not to affect the sandy portion or pedestrian traffic in any way. Again the Government thoroughly investigated the position, and, taking into consideration they had already granted a permit, and the fact that the company had gone to the expense of ordering special material abroad for the work, and being satisfied by the Mayor that the City Council had no intention of building a bath, decided to grant the present permit, which is heartily supported by all the swimming centres as a boon ro swimming, as it is the only bath of its size in the Dominion which -will allow of 100 yards without a turn.

The company is making special provision for school children, who will be allowed to use the bath two days a week free, which is something the council has not seen fit to grant.

The only two baths in Auckland controlled by the council are situated at Parnell, a mile and a-half from the tramway, and Shelly Beach, both being obsolete, with no dressing privacy; and are run at a loss of some hundreds of pounds per annum. Further, the council have seen fit to intimidate and obstruct the company in every conceivable way. refusing to grant permits for various games until compelled by threat of legal proceed. - ings: and, further, allowing pedlars of ice cream and soft drinks, which is contrary to the sanitary by-laws, anc at the same time taking the business I away from the company, who pa> i heavy rates apd taxes, and who depenc j largely upon the few summer months ! of increased revenue. DIX IE LAN D, LT D. I