NEW RECORDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 5, 7 January 1938, Page 9

NEW RECORDS.

AUCKLAND BATHS.

'WONDERFUL SEASON.'

DECEMBER'S INCREASE. SHORTS Disproves COSTUMES. "A wonderful season." said Mr. Malcolm Champion, the former noted swimmer and baths superintendent of the Auckland City Council, this morning in commenting upon the remarkable increase in bathing and swimming at Auckland in the past few weeks. He said the season reminded him of 1929. but the attendances at the baths and the number of swimmers on all the popular beaches were greater than he had ever known.

es, it is a remarkable summer." lie added. '"The people have more leisure and more money, and the weather is all that thev can desire."

To indicate the extent of the increase in swimming. M;. Champion released figures for the baths at Hobson Street. Parnell and Shelly Beach, and also gave comparisons of the attendances at the bathing sheds at Mission Bay during December. -The comparisons were as follow:—' Dpi". Pp<\ 193fi. 1937. Tepid Baths (Hohson Street* 1." 87" Parnell Baths 30.271 Shelly Beach 4,937 9.156 Mission Bay 5.49S 9,780 Congestion at Mission Bay. At Mission Bay, explained Mr. Champion, the accommodation was so congested in the afternoons and evenings, particularly in the latter part of December, that large numbers had to be turned away. But for this the comparison would have shown a far jrreater increase last month. Stating that there had been an all-round increase of children and adults, he said the popularity of the baths with the youngsters was most striking. At the tepid baths last montfi 7922 children paid to enter, and this was entirely apart from the large number, running into several thousands, who attended during the 'learn 'to swim week." from December 7 to December 11. The comparative figure for the previous December was 2751. The increases in the numbers of adults were from 3275 to 6044 men, and from 895 to 1947 women.

At Pamoll the increases were, from 2525 to 3529 men. from 1007 to 159S women, and from 3268 to 4844 children. Details of the Shelly Beach fisrures showed a rise from 1936 to 3400 men, from 1529 to 2875 women, and from 1472 to 2881 children. Parnell Baths Crowded. A visit to Parnell Baths to-day showed that they were thronged with bathers of all ages. The tide was out this afternoon, and as Auckland experienced another hot day, the combination of low tide and cloudless sky had the effect of diverting thoughts to the cooling water of the baths.

Interviewed, the custodian said that swimmers frequented the baths from early in the morning to well into the evening, but the greatest rush was experienced in the afternoon. There were many who made a dailv habit of taking a plunge at the baths, and one could almost set one's watch by them, he said. These were mainly men, but there were also a few women. On an average Sunday the total attendances often exceeded" 800, and had been as high as 1200. It was common for 600 bathers to be there at one time, and as the area of the baths was only 12 square yards short of an acre, this number did not cause congestion. There had been times when as many as a thousand were in together, and there was still room to swim and dive with safety. He remarked that the only larger pool in New Zealand was that at Mil ford. Shorts and Bronzed Swimmers. Speaking of bathing attire he said shorts were in almost universal use at the baths now by both youths and men. They had been allowed for the latter half of last summer, and their popularity had rapidly increased. This year very few full-sized bathing costumes were seen, either in the baths or on the beaches. The reason appeared to be that shorts were freer and gave a better opportunity for sun bathing. He remarked that there had been no cause whatever to complain of the way the shorts were worn. The backless costume was the vogue for women, also for the reason that it gave more opportunity for sun bathing.

Impressions gained on the beaches in recent weeks, are that there are more bronzed Aucklanders than ever before. In the past week these, and also many casual bathers, had been seen in swimming up to a late hour. With evening times and warm days the thoughts of large numbers of Aucklanders have been concentrated on the beaches. and the luckiest ones have "been those on holidav.