PUBLIC BATHS EXTENSION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9042, 18 March 1908, Page 5

PUBLIC BATHS EXTENSION.

CR. PRENTICE'S MOTION NEGATIVED.

Cr Prentice's motion that the present bath in Dixon street be extended back, to the end of the • present section, and be used for male swimmers only, and that a new bath be erected adjoining the present one for the use of ladies came on at last night's meeting of the Borough Council. Cr Prentice said that he had visited the baths very frequently during the season, and it was surprising how really inadequate the present, baths were to cope with the demands made upon them. The requirements of the school children alone were sufficient to take up the hours allotted to bathing, and the speaker said there were numerous other arguments in favour of the motion, not the least important of which was the fact that the revenue should pay the interest and sinking fund on the expenditure. The encouragement of swimming as a valuable healthgiving recreation demanded the earnest consideration of the Council and the ratepayers. Cr Pauling seconded the motion, endorsing the mover's views generally and particularly in regard to the present lack of accommodation. Cr Morris said he was opposed to the motion, believing that swimming was more of a new craze than a settled sport of the townspeople, and contending" that many roads and footpaths needed repairing before more money was spent, on baths. Cr Pragnell was prepared to support an extension of the present baths when funds would permit, and moved an amendment that the shallow end of the bath be extended, when money was .available to a length of 25 feet, depth to be 2ft 6in. This, he said, would give young children a chance of learning to swim. The amendment was not seconded. Cr Elliott thought the motion somewhat premature, and said that the excessively dry season had, by causing the Park Lake to dry up, entailed a heavier tax on the baths. He thought the ratepayers should be consulted on Cr Prentice's proposition. Cr Haughey supported the extension aa embodied in the motion, but also believed in submitting the question to the ratepayers. The Mayor considered the proposal premature, and said that anyhow en alteration to the present bath would have to be made in winter, when the season was closed. Cr Prentice would not agree to altering his motion to include only the extension of the present bath, saying he would let it go to the meeting as it stood, and "those whoopposed it would hear more about it later on." The motion was negatived, the voting being:— Ayes: Crs Prentice, Pauling, Haughey and the Mayor; Noes: Crs Elliott, Temple, Morris, Pragnell and Yarr.