Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1939. INVESTING IN AMENITIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 May 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1939. INVESTING IN AMENITIES.

AT meetings of the Borough Council, in our open, columns and V elsewhere, a good deal has been heard of late on tn subject of the proposal to construct an up-to-date bath in Masterton to. replace the admittedly unsatisfacto 5 establishment of that kind in Dixon Street which enjoj.,, I of its shortcomings, a remarkable populantydnmg the summer season. Less has been heard recently about the related to provide the town with a greatly improved water WPJ • Obviously, however, there is good sense m the opinion expressed by the Mayor (Mr T. Jordan) and endorsed by most of the other members of the Borough Council that the water supplj and baths proposals go hand m hand and should be submitte simultaneously to the ratepayers. Since it is anticipated that, a report by the Borough Engineer (Mr Mabson) embodying proposals for the improvement of the water supply will be submitted at the July meetm of the council, the intended poll cannot be taken for serera months. Ample time is thus available m which to discuss ti e water supply and baths proposals and it is desirable that e discussion should be full and searching and that the dceisio ultimately reached should be based upon due consideration of all the facts. The decision rests with the ratepayers upon whom it devolves to foot the bill and admittedly, if the water supply ami baths proposals are carried, the bill will not be a light one. The estimated cost of a covered in swimming bath, adequately equipped, is £18,693 and the cost of an open-air bath and building is estimated by the engineer at £15,700. lhe presentday cost of works that would give the town a permanent, assured and ample water supply has yet to be estimated, but would be considerably greater than that of the proposec swimming baths. Tn addition to the-capital outlay involved, allowance has to be made for additional annual expenditure to a fairly substantial amount. Looking simply at the figures of expenditure some ratepayers may be inclined to reject the proposals on the ground that thev would impose an altogether excessive and unreasonable load on the town at its present stage 01. development. Should this be the decision of a majority of the ratepayers, the matter will be settled for. the time being, ft may be pointed out, however, that to consider only the magnitude of the proposed outlay in relation to the present-dav development of the town is not necessarily sound from the standpoint of economy. There is such a thing as stinting expenditure on improvements that would help mateiiallA . o lift a town into a. more advanced stage of development, with advantage and profit at least to a considerable proportion of its ratepayers and other residents. From a strictly businesslike standpoint there is a good (leal to he said for the'view stated by Councillor G. W. Alorice, at a recent meeting of the Borough Council, that a. town. could be too conservative in its expenditure on public amenities and as a result stagnate. Municipal enterprise, wisely directed, is capable of doing a great deaf to enable a town to build up population, industry and trade at a much more rapid rate than would otherwise be attained. Masterton at present has many features of a progressive and well-developed town, notably in its splendid array ol schools, its parks and sports grounds and its well-paved and tree-planted streets, but. there cannot be any doubt that a. firstclass water supply and modern swimming baths (whether or not they are deemed to be within the present financial, reach 01. ratepayers) would add considerably to its attractions. The authorisation of a water-supply improvement and baths loan undoubtedly would impose, at an immediate view, an appreciable additional burden on ratepayers. All that need be urged is that this is not the whole story. What, has to be determined is whether the proposed expenditure on improvements is or is not an investment on which there would be reasonable prospects of securing adequate returns within a reasonable, period. Where the water supply is concerned, some fairly extensive improvements in the way of the replacement of mains are. bound to be carried out before long in any case. In addition, the substitution of a secure intake for a soakage intake liable to be swept away by flood certainly deserves at least to be considered, and the question of increasing the pressure available for fire-fighting is extremely important. In the discussion that has already taken place some people have classed the proposed swimming baths as a. luxury which may well be done without. It has to be considered, however,, that the baths would enable old and young to engage in one of the finest forms of physical exercise in far better conditions than those now ruling. The contribution that would thus be made to the health and welfare of the community must weigh heavily against the expenditure entailed. It is for the ratepayers to consider whether, taking everything into consideration, the town can afford to deny itself this amenity. There is not much to be said for attempts lo effect economy by modifying the engineer’s proposals. A roofed bath could be used all the vear round. An unroofed one would cost only about £3,000 less. Any further reduction in outlay probably would make the baths inadequate or detract from the high standard of cleanliness which is essential.