LADIES' SWIMMING BATHS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9620, 13 October 1909, Page 5

LADIES' SWIMMING BATHS.

FURTHER DISCUSSED IN THE COUNCIL. At the meeting of the Borough Council held last evening, a btter was received from the Masterton Ladies' Swimming Club, enclosing a letter from Dr. W. H. Hosking, in reference to a petition to be presented to the Council requesting that the baths for which he had provided the money should be. erected in Dixon street. The Doctor's letter ran as follows: - "The Secretary Ladles' Swimming Club, Masterton.~l learn with much regret and not a little disgust that you and others contemplate diverting funds which I helped you to acquire for the purpose of erecting a bath for women in the Park only, into building a bath at the -Dixon street site, which was never contemplated by me or mine, i can only say that the Council agreed to allow the bath to be built in the Park, and I demand that if it cannot be built there, :n common honesty, it is your duty to return the amount to me. As you know yourselves this was quite understood at the time I conceded you the motor car and deeds of the property in Worksop road. It you agree to the Dixon street site all I cm say is that you have obtained the means under - false pretences, and I demand its, return, or its value—W. H. HOSKING." Cr Pauling presented a representative petition signed by 152 ladies, asking that the baths be erected in Dixon street on the grounds of centrality and general convenience* The Mayor explained that Dr. Hoski.ig had presented the money for the baths on condition that they were erected in the Park. If the Council did not intend to give effect to the Doctor's wishes they should return the securities to bim. Out of courtesy and fairness to the Doctor his directions should be carried out. He (the Mayor) had no objection to the baths going to Dixon street, but if they did they would have to be erected and maintained by the Council. Councillors should drop their own special desires in this matter, meet the wishes of the Doctor, and per-

Mit the erection of the baths without

delay. Cr Prentice thought the matter was not worth discussing further until the money was available. The Mayor considered the petition should have been presented to Dr. Hosking, as he had found the money. The Council had no say in the question. Cr Pauling stated that the ladies of Masterton in general had not been consulted at all. A hole and corner meeting of one or two members of the Ladies' Swimming Club had decided to gain their own ends at any cost, and practically ignored the vast majority o! the ladies interested. The whole question had been handled in an unfortunate manner from the start, and it was apparently doomed to failure unless a better understanding was come to. Kepresentatives of the ladies of Masterton and his Wor ship should meet the Doctor in con ference, and have the whole matter d'scussed. He felt sure Dr. Hosking was desirous of meeting the wishes of thy majority of the ladies, but at present he was apparently in the dark on the question. The petition prcsjutei contained the names of

many leading ladies of Masterton, who were anxious only to see the baths erected in a place where they would be readily accessible to the women of Masterton. The petition contained the names of over twenty members of the Ladies' Swimming Club, who had taken a prominent part in the formation of the Club. Cr Ewington thought the petitiort. should not weigh with the Council ia the least. It had only been procured after a strenuous canvass, and a counter petition could be secured in an hour containing three times the number of signatures. The Mayor reiterated his statement that the Councill could not consider the petition, and urged it be referred to Dr. Hosking. If the Doctor agreed to the transfer of the site then the petition could come before the Council again at a later date. Cr Pauling objected to the wording ot Dr. Hosking's letter to the Ladies' Swimming Club. If the money had been in the hands of the Council he would have moved that it be returned to him. He had incircled his gift with all sorts of impossible but unless the baths were to be in the interests of the ladies of Masterton as a whole then the Council should have nothing to do with them. Cr Temple thought the Council had practically insulted Dr. Hosking by the way they had treated his gift. A liberal donation for baths had been made by the Doctor, but the Council had failed to appreciate it.

Cr Morris stated that in the legitimate expression of opinion hewas x\u respector of persons. The Doctor bad given £4OO for the erection of baths, which would entail upon the ratepayers for all time an expenditure from £SO to £6O per year. The money should be expended upon an extension of the Dixon street baths, which were in a good position, and for which the Council already provided a custodian. Cr Rigg was des-rous of seeing finality reached in the matter, and he supported the Mayor s motion to refer the petition to Dr. Hosking. The petition was then referred to Dr. Hosking for consideration. The Town Clerk subsequently eoc into telephonic communication with Dr. Hosking to ascertain if he would receive him with the petition., The Doctor declined to do so.