An "Olympic" Pool At Newmarket

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 65, 18 March 1938, Page 13

An "Olympic" Pool At Newmarket

CIVIC AMENITY.

AMBITIOUS MOVE. £14.000 AUTHORISATION. WATER TO BE CHANGED EVERT SIX HOURS. (By POXTY.) Three rears aero "Ponty" -wrote an article on "Hygienic Sterile Bathing I'r.ol? ' in the Sports Edition, the theme nt « hi eh was the definite need for pools in N'ew Zealand similar to those in other parts of the world. The article stressed the building of the Enfield "Olympic" Tool at Sydney, wh:ch w.is the initial move towards creating the large array of absolutely pure bathing pools, which were to spring up in almost every district of any consequence in Australia. The recently-returned Auckland members of the Empire Games team are loud in their praises of the wonderful facilities extended to the public per . medium of these reafly healthy pools, and have expressed the opinion that the time is long overdue when there should be some move towards building here in Auckland, not one pool, but many in which the bathing public can swim with safety from infection. This summer, with more and more people being interested in swimming, plus the fact of the obvious lack of suitable hygienic facilities, has left a lot [ mare than the usual string of ear, throat and nose s trouble due to water-carried infection. Two Changes 12-hourly. At the present moment Auckland is closer than ever towards seeing the fulfilment of the long wanted need —sterile pools. The Newmarket Borough Council has in hand the building of a truly "Olympic" standard pool, and the people responsible for such a splendid move are to be congratulated. Imagine a tiled pool 165 ft x 50ft. depth ranging from 3ft 6in to 13ft 6in, filled with absolutely sterile water, operated by a plant, that will give two complete changes every 12 hours, and you have some idea of the Newmarket project. These are the dimensions of the Enfield (N.S.W.) and Melbourne pool*, but one recently opened at North Sydney is wider still, the actual size being 165 ft long by 75ft across. Enterprising Town Clerk. During his recent visit to America, Mr. Harold Wilson (town clerk of Newmarket) was very much impressed with the recreational facilities and amenities provided for the people by even the smallest municipalities. He was particularly struck by the proposals of a small local authority situated about 23 miles out of New York. At the time when Mr. Wilson visited this village (Scarsdale) a proposal was under consideration to create public amenities and # a refreational centre at an estimated cost of 500,000 dollars. Fancy £100,000 for a recreational centre! On his return to New Zealand. Mr Wilson felt that, in the light of hji

experiences overseas, a more progressive and courageous policy should be adopted in this country by municipalities in regard to tlie provision of public amenities and recreational centres. Accordingly, he reported to this effect to his council, , and the present proposals are the direct outcome: of this report. The phi nA drawn up by the Newmarket Jloroiigh engineer. Mr. X. F. Allcock. bolides making provision for seat- , iii£r accommodation for l.>oo r.n t.ie * ic- . tori a Crescent side of the poo!, contemplates another 2-'i"o people witnessing races on big occasions. Temporary, stands on tennis courts to lie built on the Broadwav line will be available for j daylight meetings. Of course to permit j of thi*. the Broadway side of the build-1 ing housing the pool will roll up. as it 5s not intended that it shall be a permanent open-air bath. All-important Question. / The amount of the authorisation- for; this enterprise is £ 14.000. 1 liat M) be taken as a minimum. The original proposal is to obtain the money from the Loco 1 Bodies Loans Board. Coming rio-lit on top of the medical denunciation of unhvgienic baths, the learn-to-swnn week with its paradoxical denouement of heavy death-roll in the water, and the promised early eetting-np of the National Council of Physical Welxare and Recreation, no hitch is expected m raising the money for such a praiseworthy object.