POLL TO BE TAKEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 April 1939, Page 5

POLL TO BE TAKEN

TEPID BATHS AND IMPROVED WATER SUPPLY Masterton Borough Council Decision DISCUSSION AT SPECIAL MEETING By a unanimous vote the Masterton Borough Council, at a special meeting last night, decided to take a poll ot ratepayers on a proposal to raise a loan to construct, tepid swimming baths at an estimated cost of £18,693 and also to provide an improved and efficient water service lor the town. In the main, councillors agreed with the Mayor, Air T. Jordan, that the two proposals went hand in hand, and when he said: I think it is common sense and prudence to hold the baths scheme back until the water proposal is ready. 1.1 that is done I believe that there will be a reasonable chance of carrying them both.”

In explaining details of his special report regarding the proposed new tepid baths the Borough Engineer, Mr C. R. Mabson, said the proposals were the result of many months of work and were based on information obtained from America, England, Australia and New Zealand. The plans had been modified to meet as far as possible local requirements. The present Dixon Street baths were anything but desirable for a modern town of this size. No baths were worth anything today unless they had proper sanitary equipment. There were pools in New Zealand today that were anything but health resorts and it was a wonder to him that they had not been closed by the Health Department long ago. It might be questioned whether a town with a population of 9000 needed tepid baths, but it was necessary to look to the future and treat Masterton as the hub of the Wairarapa. Mr Mabson went on to describe the size, capacity and other aspects of the baths as outlined in his report, previously published. It had been found, he said, that when the water was heated attendances doubled or trebled.

Asked by Councillor W. Kemp if he could cut the estimate by £5OOO and still retain the main features, Mr Mabson said: “Yes, you can do without the building and spoil the whole job.” He admitted that he had investigated other possible sites for the baths but they would make little difference to the total cost. He definitely contemplated doing away with the two existing baths if the new one was erected. SWIMMING CLUB VIEWS. Mr H. E. Pither, who with Messrs H. P. Glen and V. McKeague, placed the views of the Masterton Amateur Swimming Club before the meeting, said that the public of Masterton was fully aware of the fact that the present baths were totally inadequate and had outlived their usefulness. It had been suggested by the club that the baths might be located in Church Street, about 50 yards from the Post Office. Mr x Glen said the club wished to stress Two points—first, that the revenue had been estimated on a very conservative basis and secondly that the expenditure might be reduced in some respects without interfering with the essential aspects of Mr Mabson’s scheme. He was quite confident that with the new baths the revenue would increase very considerably. The club was of the opinion that the cost could be reduced by not opening the baths during the winter months and by doing away with heating in the middle of summer. Mr McKeague said that the problem of new swimming baths was one of the most pressing that had come before the public for a considerable time past. The present baths were a jar to our civic pride. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, assured the deputation that its representations would receive careful consideration. SHOULD GO TO RATEPAYERS. Mr Jordan pointed out that under the Physical Recreat >n and Health Act, local bodies ha, the power to • raise money for such a project with,out going to the ratepayers. In this case, however, he agreed that they should not contemplate an expenditure of £lB,OOO without giving the public, who would have to foot the

bill, an opportunity to have a say. It would probably mean a rate of from Jd to Jd in the £. Councillor J. Ninnes moved that a poll of the ratepayers be taken on the proposal to erect new tepid swimming baths. He would, however, like to see a modified scheme prepared. It was too big a job for the council to decide and the matter should definitely go to a poll. Councillor H. E. Gardner, who seconded the motion, said he believed that if they could get a less elaborate and more serviceable scheme there would be a better chance of carrying the poll. The new baths, however, would be a wonderful asset to the town from the point of view of progress and the amount of service given. Mr Jordan pointed out that at the present time they were unable to. estimate what amount of Government subsidy would be forthcoming. He knew there was a shortage of money. TIME NOT OPPORTUNE. Councillor G. W. Morice agreed that the proposal should go to the ratepayers, but he considered that the time was not yet ripe and that the matter should be referred back to the Works Committee to see if any amendments could be made to the scheme without spoiling it. He favoured the scheme as it stood and believed that a town could be too conservative in its expenditure on public amenities and as a result stagnate. He moved as an amendment that the scheme be referred to the Works Committee for a report before going to a poll. Mr Jordan questioned whether that would get them any further. The Engineer, he said, had gone thoroughly into the proposal to see if he could reduce the expenditure. If they were going to have new baths then they should have something worthy of the town. WATER SUPPLY IMPORTANT. Valuable though the baths would be, Councillor G. D. Wilson said, there were other more important matters confronting the council. The most vital matter for the council to consider today was the question of an improved water supply and he would not favour taking a poll on the baths proposal without considering the subject of a more efficient water supply. Other councillors agreed with Counr cillor Wilson and the Mayor said: “As I read the signs it would be a waste of money to take a poll on one question and not on the other.” Councillor Kemp described the baths proposal as the most progressive piece of municipal business that had been put before the council in the past ten or twelve years. He could not in the circumstances understand why such red herrings as the question of the water supply should be put forward now to kill the other scheme.

Mr Jordan: “It is not fair to say that. It is put forward as a bona fide proposal.” In answer to a question Mr Mabson said he anticipated that he would have his proposals for the water scheme ready for submission to the July meeting. Councillor Morice withdrew his amendment and Councillor Ninnes amended his motion to include the taking of a poll on the question of the water supply at the same time as the baths scheme. In that form the motion was carried unanimously?