MASTERTON BATHS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10716, 9 October 1912, Page 5

MASTERTON BATHS

DEPUTATION TO BOROUGH COUNCIL. • The rjuestion cf regulations for the conduct of the Mastcrton Swimming Baths came up before the Masterton. Borough Council last evening, when st deputation waited on the Council to make suggestions and recommendations for the Council to deal with in connection with the baths. Mr A. R. Bunny, in a lengthy report, stated'a number of reasons why both the ladies' baths and thc v Dixon Streefc baths.should be thrown open for males and females. He-also suggested alterations to prevent undesirables from entering the baths. Mr Bunny presented time regulations, which he suggested the Borough should adopt. His AVorship the Mayor stated that the Council could not throw open for both sexes the "'Christina and Alice" Baths, as they were presented for the special purpose of ladies' baths. The custodian of the Dixon Street baths, in answer to a question, stated that he had heard numerous complaintsthat the baths ' were open to ladies, when they had the opportunity to use the Ladies' Baths. Mr Nwblc-Campbell stated that last year's regulations appeared to give satisfaction. He did not favour females using the Dixon-street Baths. He suggested a number of minor improvements which would make the Baths more attractive. He also thought that it would be a good thing to issue monthly tickets, and tha tthey should fight against all sorts and conditions using the baths. The Mayor said that from enquiries he had made he found that the majority were satisfied with the regulations prevailing in connection with the Bath:-. He did not think any benefit would be derived from throwing both baths open to males and females. The Mayor ftlso stated that he was not at all in ty.nr pathy -with the references made to the baths being used by "all sorts of classes." He thought it should •• be known that there was no class line in regard to the Baths, which were established for the public benefit. Mr Bunny: I did not intend that inT'ereuec to be drawn. . The Mayor: Oh, I was not exactly referring to you, but you made .mention of an undesirable class. Mr Bunny explained that his words referred to thosewho patronised the baths and soaped themselves all over before getting into the water. Another member of the deputation said he did not think that the reference to "class" was intended from a social point of view, but referred to anyone who might be suffering from any disease or any complaint likely to be a. menace to those using the baths. The custodian of the Dixcin Street baths asked that a regulation be drawn up ordering those using baths to be properly dressed, as he h:id difliculty in enforcing the rule. Mr Bunny said that there were no grounds whatever for the custodian's assertion. The whole question was fully gone into by the Council after the retirement of the deputation, and several suggestions were brought forward by Councillors. It was finally decided, on the motion of Cr Temple, that the regulations remain as last year, when, according to the general opinion of the Council, there was little room for dissatisfaction.