Auckland Beaches

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 569, 23 January 1929, Page 8

Auckland Beaches

Primitive Conditions Prevail More Enterprise Needed DIRTY beaches, foul-smelling bathing-sheds hopelessly inadequate for the thousands who flock to the Auckland beaches at this time of the year, and in many instances, insufficient shelter for picnickers, are inconveniences which Aucklanders are content to put up with and allow to stand to the discredit of their city.

On the outlying beaches —those shining strips of sand slung hammocklike between the crimson headlands of the Gulf —it is perhaps a far greater pleasure to find beaches undisturbed by the hand of man. But these are not accessible to all, and it is on the beaches close to the city that large crowds must be catered for by adequate and clean dressing accommodation and modern conveniences. It is in this respect that Auckland is sadly lacking in enterprise. On most of the inlying beaches bathing-

sheds have certainly been thrown up, but in hardly one instance is the accommodation sufficient to cater for the numbers using it on week-ends and other holidays. On the North Shore beaches, bath-ing-sheds have been erected by the municipalities concerned and have been thrown open for the use of the public free of charge. This generosity is perhaps appreciated by some, but judging from the complaints frequently heard regular swimmers would prefer to pay a small charge and have the convenience of properly constructed sheds with custodians in charge to take care of money and other valuables. At Devonport and Takapuna hooks and a narrow wooden form running along the side of the shed are provided. The hooks, however, are insufficient to provide hanging space for all the clothing on busy days, and

many a sopping garment has to be rescued by irate owners from the sloppj' surface of the concrete floors. To put on a pair of socks and still remain dry-shod is a feat worthy of an acrobat. In some instances the drainage is of a very primitive order. At Narrow Neck the water brought into the shed by bathers, and on busy days it is a considerable amount, is allowed to drop through the floor on to the sand beneath, where it is joined by the waste water from the shower. On occasions children can be seen gathering up this wet and by no means fragrant sand for the purpose of consolidating their sand castles. Smaller towns such as Wanganui, New Plymouth and Timaru, to mention only a few, can supply Auckland with a valuable lesson as to how visitors can be catered for in this respect. Commodious sheds, kept scrupulously clean, and closed-in areas for sunbathers can be used, for a small charge. There bathers also have the consolation of knowing that their money can be left in safe keeping, and that it is not necessary at the end of the day to borrow a shilling in order to get back home. On some of the beaches in Auckland private enterprise is responsible for providing a few of the privileges of modern civilisation, but even then the accommodation is far from sufficient during the holiday season. Although the adoption of a by-law forbidding dogs to roam at large on the beaches under the control of the North Shore boroughs was a wise measure, it has not proved very effective. On most of the beaches stray animals still roam at will, causing considerable annoyance, besides creating a serious menace to the health of the children. On many of the well-patronised beaches seaweed and other vegetable matter washed up by the big tides is allowed to accumulate and decay for the benefit of swarms of flies. At Southern resorts it is the custom to harrow the beaches frequently and by this means they are kept reasonably clean. The beaches are one of Auckland’s great assets, and well managed should be a potential source of revenue. Although it is neither necessary nor desirable that profits should be made out of them at the expense of the people, sufficient money should be forthcoming to keep them reasonably clean, equip them with conveniences fit and adequate for public use, and generally maintain a standard of cleanliness and convenience that will be a credit to the city.