THE A.C. BATHS

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 18, 14 May 1952, Page 4

THE A.C. BATHS

Recent correspondence on the subject of the A.C. Baths hours has revealed the need for some kind of understanding that will work fairly in the interests and convenience of both the public and the Town Board's officer in charge. The Board by advertisement has fixed the opening and closing times for the summer and winter months. There is no difficulty about the opening times. It is the application of the closing time that seems to be giving cause for comment. The time allowance for patrons of the baths is 20 minutes for the duration of occupancy. Too long immersion is considered undesirable, for health reasons. The time limit is therefore not unreasonable. When, as in holiclay periods especially, there is a heavy demand, a certain amount of waiting is unavoidable. This can be shortened by consideration for others on the part of the users. There still remains the problem of the closing time. It is reasonable, and right, that there should be no admittance after 10 p.m. The bath premises have to be tidied up and cleaned some time between then and the opening hour the following day. But a complete shut-down is obviously impossible if some individuaj, or a number should claim admittance, say, five or ten minutes before closing time, and, the privilege of 20 minutes occupancy delaying the closing of the baths quite considerably. There is room here for dissatisfaction to arise. There is also room for the exercise of sweet reasonableness on both sides, and fair play. If the officer in charge extends a little latitude to late-comers, this indulgence should not be abused by patrons. A hard and fast routine would be obviously difficult to adhere to, especially during the height of the season, but unreasonable demands by patrons might render it necessarv. AN EXPLANATION By an oversight, an editorial article on the Taupo Hydro Electricity Scheme, written for last week's issue, was set as a news article, and appeared at the top of the front page right-hand colunin instead of its usual position on this page.