THE SALTWATER BATHS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 204, 5 February 1915, Page 3

THE SALTWATER BATHS.

SOME SENSIBLE KECOMMENDAI; TIONS. At a meeting of the Baths Committee on Tuesday night the following members were present: Councillors A. E. Sykes (chairman), C. H. Burgess, J. T. Mannix, S. J. Smith and Mr. W. L. Newman. The chairman presented the following report:— During the past four months as chairman of your committee I have made it my duty tb investigate the unsatisfactory financial condition of the baths. You are no doubt aware that the man-, egement, upkeep, interest, etc., is costing the ratepayers of this borough something in the vicinity of £4OO per annum, and the returns are totally inadequate for the amount expended. The j following figures will give you an iilwi j of the actual earnings of the baths since ; its inauguration:—l9o4, £135 las Mil;! • 1905, £9O lGs 6d; 1900, £B4 14a sd;l 1907, £llO 10s 2d; 1908, £B9 12s 0d; 1909, £lO5 Is Md; 1910, £llO 2s Oil; 1911, £9O Ms lid; 1912, £52 19s lid; 1913, £7l 8s lid; 1914, £B4 9s 9d. After perusing the same carefully, I think that you will agree with mc that tliis unsatisfactory state of affairs has no right to exist; at any rate, much I may be done towards placing the man- j agement of the baths on a more busi-ness-like basis. The system of admitting patrons by ticket and checking by duplicate (in book form) is not sum'-! cient. I would suggest that a cashj register be substituted for the drawer which is taking the place of a till, and also that two turnstiles be. erected onj Ito register the number of patrons entering the baths and the other to register the number of persons leaving. This system of checking, if adopted by the Council, will make it possible to detect any irregularities which may occur. Season and Family Tickets. —The custodian has experienced no trouble in checking season tickets, but such is not the ease with family tickets. Children whose parents have purchased family tickets attend the baths without any tickets whatever, and it is impossible for the custodian to keep a check in such cases. In order to get over the trouble I would suggest that when family tickets are issued (a ticket should be issued in the name of each member of the family and shoull be presented to the custodian for admission when entering the baths. Closing of Baths (April 14 to September 14, winter months). —Bath receipts as from April 14 to September 14.—1n the past ten years the receipts do not 1 justify the opening of the baths during the above months. (According to agreement with the custodian other employment will be found for him in the borough during this period). Bath receipts from April 14 to September 14 in each year from 1909-1914: 1909, £8 13s 2d; 1910, £7 9s 7d; 1911, £5 9s; 1912, £4 17s Cd; 1913, closed one month; 1914, £l3 Ms 7d. Expenditure: Wages £O3, fuel, etc., £l3 S?s; representing a loss of approximately £6B in five months each year. Bathing Costumes and Towels These should be hired out by the custodian and the proceeds should be part of the revenue. During the past two months 4498 patrons have visited the baths, and some days the revenue from towels and trunks has been as much as 8s per day. The outlay for towels and trunks should not exceed £B. The present lot belongs to the custodian, which he purchased from the late cus- j todian for £6. Swimming Pool.—lf the bottom of the bath is raised three feet it will allow the baths to be emptied every night and still allow the same depth of, water, as the water will be raised three ■ feet and be within six inches of the top.' ' It will also make provision for an over- j ! flow. |

Publicity.—Starting with the opening of the baths I consider £lO spent judiciously in advertising the baths would bring in a good return, allocated as follows:—Daily newspapers, £fl; advertising cards with photo of baths, etc., £2 | lfls; descriptive folders for distribution) in public places, hotels, boarding houses, | etc., £1 10s. This is a matter which it would be avisable for the Baths Committee to consider before next September. Government Capitation for Swimming Instructors.—l have been given to understand that the Government subsidises instructors to the extent of Is (id fori each child taught to swim. This, of, course, goes to the custodian. Rometiling should be done in the way of en-1 couraging the various schools to form | squads to be taught swimming under a competent instructor such as we have in! the present custodian. Mr and Mrs Schwartz, custodians of the baths, were appointed last August, and I am pleased to state are giving entire satisfaction. They both take a keen interest in their work, and under their supervision the takings have considerably increased, so much so that I have reason to believe that this season is going to be a record one. The takings for the past six months have been £lO4 5s 9d, the biggest month being January, when they were £35 3s Bd. Under ordinary I conditions the takings should exceed | £l5O for the season, as we still have two good months of the year to go. The above report is the result of aj very careful study of the conditions under which public baths are managed in other parts of the Dominion, and I trust that the recommendations set forth will receive tlie favourable consideration of the committee and of the council. The committee decided to make the following recommendations to the Borough Council: That the. action of the chairman in! granting the eustodia n the use of the baths on two evenings per week until 8 p.m. for the purpose of instructing classes in life-saving be confirmed. That the borough engineer submit an rised to insert a suitable wire-guard in the ticket-box. That two turnstiles be procured for the purpose of registering the numbers of persons entering the baths, approximate cost £5 each. That when family tickets are issued an additional ticket be issued in the name of each member of the family, to lie produced when entering the baths. That the borough engineer submit an estimate of the cost of erecting a lavatory in' u more convenient position than ni present, and that the chairman make arrangements for temporary accommodation.

That after the expiration'of the present season-tickets, the baths be closed from April 14 to September 14 in each I year, and that the eustodian be em-1 ployed on other work during this] period. Than the borough engineer be. instructed to submit a report setting out the cost and effect of raising the bottom of the baths three Feet, and for making provision for an overflow pipe. That at the opening of next season' £lO be spent ill advertising the baths, j That the question of the Government subsidy for instrnetioi. tti swimming and of encouraging the various schools to form squads to be taught swimming bv the custodian be referred to the chairman with power to act. That the charge for the us,, of the baths for swimming carnivals be increased (o 25 per cent, of tile gross takings. That consideration or the estimate or (he borough engineer of the cost of converting the counter-space at the baths into hot water and massage rooms be deferred.