THE LADIES' BATHS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9613, 6 October 1909, Page 5

THE LADIES' BATHS.

DISCUSSED AT. A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOROUGH COUNCIL. THE SMALLER SCHEME ■ DECIDED ON. A special meeting of the Masterton Borouph Council was held last eve. ing, for the purpose of considering a letter f on the Ladies' Swimming Clu\ asking thaCmncil to ace pt £4OO anil with it construck a smaller batii ti.an the one originally proposed. There we-j present—The Mayor (Mr P. L. Hoi lings), and Crs W. Morri-% J. Pren . tie, J. C. Ewington, W. Pragi.ell, R. Rigg, T. G. Hoar, F. W. Temple. Jas. Elliott, J. H. Pauling. The Mayor, in outlining the object of the meeting, said that £4OO was the utmost the ladies could get with which to proceed with the work, although it was a pity they were not uIIj to get the £SOO as was originally proposed. The Borough Engineer had stated that he was prepared to erect a smailer bath and keep the cost pf construction within £4OO. He moved that the Council accept the smaller sum from the Ladies' Swimming Club, and that the Engineer praceed with the erection of a. smaller bath, viz., 75 feet long. It was necessary that they should proceed with the work at once, as the summer season was now coming on. Cr Hoar seconded the motion. Cr Morris asked if'the question of Bite had yet been'settled. The Mayor replied in the affirmative, stating that it had been decided long ago. He could not take any new motion on this, although the Council were at liberty to discuss the question from all standpoints. Cr Morris said that after Cr Paul ing had got the meeting deferred he understood the question was to be fully discussed. In support of the Dixon Street site the -speaker said that he understood the land there was available, that the fences were already in position, and, moreover, if both baths were there qui/ om custodian would be required to look after both. The Mayor said the la lias had expressed a defrnit i .oajnion : n favo ir of the Park, but if they wanted it in Dixon Street then it wis ail right. He had made it his business

to interview the ladies before the meeting, and their views as to the Park mte were most emphatic, as also were those ot Dr Hoskihg, who gave the money. Cr Pauling held that if the ladies would guarantee the upkeep of the baths after they were erected then he would certainly offer no objection to the Park site. Cr Ewington said he considered the Park was the right place, and this matter should be definitely settled at the present meeting. If the baths were not a success [then "a new time table could be arranged. Cr Pauling went into the history of the whole question from the time tenders were first called for the original work. It was wrong to take on a proposition that was going to cos t the Council £SO or £6O rtguiarly every year. On the other hand, if the ladies were going to control the baths he would not say any more. He doubted whathar the Council could give the ladies' authority to charge for admission to the baths. The Mayor said a charge could be irade, but at the same time he wanted it made clear that the ladies were handing the money over to the.' Borough, and the baths would be their property. Cr Pauling maintained that the baths were a free gift, and that a charge could not be made. Cr Elliott said the ladies were willing to do their share towards the upkeep of the baths. Cr Prentice said the difficulty could be easily overcome by the Council erecting proper and commodious baths in Dixon Street, at a cost of £1,000,. and one custodian could then easily manage both departments if they were together. At this stage Cr Temple suggested to the Mayor that matters might be simplified if the ladies representing the Swimming Club, who were present, expressed their views. In answer to a question by. the Mayor, Mrs Blackman, the President of the Swimming Club said that they understood that the Council was to bear the cost of up-keep, in view of the fact that tha ladles were hai.duig the whole •of the, money over to that body. ~' Tne Mayor said he was also of the opinion that he Council should pay the cost of upkeep. ' Cr Preutice: You must remember that we have to protect the interests of the ratepayers. We lost money last year on the Dixon Street bath?. The Mayor: All the more reason for the baths being in the Park.

Mrs Blackmsui further stated that Dr Hosking had expressed a wish that the baths should be in the Park. Cr Pauling asked if the ladies had ever called a meeting to discuss the question. Miss Gillespie, secretary of the Club, explained that members had not been called together, but a meeting had dealt fuljy with the matter. They had only met one lady who did not want the baths in the Park. Cr Ewington: Dr Hosking, when ~ he gave it to the ladies of Ma3terton generally, at least seven-tenths of those he had met were in favour of the Park as a site.

Cr Morris complained th at the Mayor had not given them a proper notification that, the matter was to be discussed. Speaking further, he said he had the interests of the ratepayers to guard, and he was goin* to support Dixon Street. Cr Hoar said he had not heard any arguments to make bin) 1 think the Park was not a suitable site. He could assure those present that the lidus' baths would not' be a •* "white elephant." Cr Elliott raid he was in favour of the Park,, It was a good thing and would make the Park attractive. Fees would have to be levied to provide for expenses of a custodian. " The membership of the Club was a large one, and he was sure the money, would be easily forthcoming. Cr Rigg said if the baths weie together in Dixon Street, it would be much less expansive and in every way better. Ha had intended tb vote against the - Park site, but if they would give a guarantee to cover the upkeep of the expenses then he would support it. ' _ ._ .. .-., ',,-;,. _,,.. ~';■ ~ . . , Mr Noble-Campbell asked if tha ladies would have to make up any deficiency in the upkeep or the construction of the baths. The Mayor: The only question before the Council was his motion. The motion was then put to the meeting, the voting being as follows: —Ayes: The Mayor and Crs Elliott. Temple, Hoar, Ewington. Noes: Pauling, Pragnell, Rigg, Morris, and Prentice. On the casting vote of the Mayor, the motion was carried.