Swimming Bath or Hospital Ward?

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxxii, Issue 8374, 22 May 1911, Page 4

Swimming Bath or Hospital Ward?

To the Editor.

Sir, —On reading ' your leader in Friday's "Guardian," it struck me you must have been prompted by certain amphibious people, who a short time ago went to some trouble to obtain a grant of £850 for a bath in the Domain. Finding their efforts were not met in kindly spirit, they graciously reduced the application by about £200\ The usual farce of a public meeting took place, and at a later stage a poll, %vhen the ratepayers, with no uncertain vote, vetoed the proposal. They then used a little influence to have £50 spent on what you term a pond, which I have reason to think became I £100 in a very short time. Now, Sir, your suggestion is to throw away the bath or pond, and g;o for an increased expenditure up to, say, £3000. Experience teaches us, as a rule, that the cost becomes more as the work goes on. You remark that the bathing pond, admirable though it is, becomes a mere muddy pool when a few bathers are in it, and on account of its uneven bottom it is not quite safe for young people who cannot swim. I think, Sir, you have been misled, say, inadvertently. The present bath was constructed by the late Mr Fooks, senior, Borough Engineer, one side for some distance shallow, the other side six feet of water. If a new one were constructed, part would have to be shallow and part deep. So much for the muddy pond, known as the baths. I would respectfully suggest, in lieu of this! proposal of yours, that any monies that may be collected, voted, or granted be used for building an additional ward at the County Hospital, which would prove a distinct advantage to many who are unable to help themselves, through force of circumstances over which they have no contral, or sheer poverty. ' . ONE OF THIRTEEN. May 20, 1911. [Next, please.—Editor "Guardian."]