AN URGENT NEED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 February 1939, Page 6

AN URGENT NEED

NEW MUNICIPAL BATHS. (To the Editor). Sir, —You are to be congratulated on your excellent editorial concerning the need for new swimming baths in Masterton. No further demonstration of the inadequacy of the present baths was needed than the two recent carnivals. The first, a fortnight ago, held on a wet evening, saw visitors wading along the edge in pools of water. The second, under ideal weather conditions, saw them perched precariously on roofs fences, borrowed forms, and boxes. A factor, which, in spite of the enthusiasm of the local club, hinders the progress of the sport in Masterton, is the length of the present baths. Opinions differ, but 26yds Ift 2 2-5 ins is popularly held to be the length, at least on one side. This would be merely funny in a pool which is supposed to be 25 yards, were it not for the fact that all times have to be submitted to a central handicapper for competitive swimming. Furthermore, championship events are not allotted to Masterton for this reason, although much smaller towns in the Wairarapa get their share. A visiting swimmer, too, finds that his Masterton times, are about three to four seconds slower than they should be. Our Mayor announced recently that while the council was fully in sympathy with the club’s aspirations (and, incidentally the desire of the majority of people in Masterton), baths weie not produced out of the air. Plans were being prepared, and the best overseas opinions sought. This is veiy commendable. So far we have heard not one single detail of the course of these investigations or of the progress made. This is offered in no spirit of criticism of the Borough Engineer, who is a very busy man; but it must be pointed out that the submission of plans is only the initial step, and a short one at that, towards the completion of the baths. Provided the Borough Council makes early application, free labour is likely to be available towards the end o autumn. The opportunuity should be grasped without delay. Ycur suggestion, Sir, of a petition is a good one. I venture to suggest, how ever that, if a written petition is necessary to inform councillors of our need for new baths, they must indeed deaf.-I am, etc.. Masterton. February 24.