OUR LETTER BOX.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5490, 1 April 1910, Page 2

OUR LETTER BOX.

are not responsible /or opinions expressed by corespondents}.

AN OPINION.

(To the F/ditor.)

Sir, I do nut know whether 1 should write this or leave it to some better hand, to let the peop'e of Tauranga know how far they are in the background in most modem things There are many things I should like to dwell on at the proses t moment. The historic name, the fine harbour and many other advantages that the town of Tanranga can boast of, but few appreciate. But the people of Tauranga seem to hold to the same ideas year in and year out, the same business 'houses and grassy streets. I attended the Boating Club meeting the other evening when Mr Toomath, custodian of the baths, said that the public baths were not sufficiently supported by the public and that he could not see his way clear to support himself and family and was afraid that he would have to resign his custodianship. Now, as far as I can see, Air Toomnth is about the liveliest man in Taul'ftnga, being a leading man in both sport and music and as captain cf the Fire Brigade. I do not think the public could wish for a better man and for him to take on such a pcorly paid game, and then to be boycotted by the public, I cannot understand. 1 was speaking to Mr Toomath on Monday last and he gave me good reasons why- he was disgusted with the way he was being treated. It seems to me that he tries to please ttaryone and make the batli3 a success, toth by teaching and encouraging ba hew, and organising swimnvng sports. He told me that lie took the baths on a lease on condition that the Council put the baths in a safe state of repair. Well, for my ptirt, I do not think tho baths are safe, for when a man can swim between the palings they cannot be safe. He has also put for the convenience of the public a small room at the entrance, to cater for refreshments that are quite necessary for asy up-to-date baths where tearooms are not handy.. He alsojnit in a new spring board and turning beards at his own expense and all his returns are the issue of five family set son tickets at 10s, seven single tickets at op, and his average daily takings of bathing fees of2d for adults and id for children have amounted to Is 1 Id for the three months he has been in possession. .. Well, Sir, lam not surprised that tbe cust dian is tired of the game, but I am more than su.pris d that the people of Tauranga oil -w a muiA efforts and c iergy on th ir b.hJf g without support ? It. is v<ry bird i- i the cust dian to look, on both sides cf the baths and see bathuy of -both sexes, at any time during the day; swimmiug in the open and not a person in the baths. Something will have to be d< ne or the Council will have to look on the baths as a " White- Elephant." Then there is another public institu tion that is not patronised as it should be and that is the Tauranga Town Brass Band. This band wes got up volnntarily by a few members of tho old band who called a mee'ing of all interested in forming a band, which was a success Now, this is a voluntary band, whose members pay to join, give away a lot of their pleasures to go and practice for the leneflt and pleasure cf the public and get nothing in return, and some of them 'perhaps.f ined for not attending practice. Though some have their own instruments, and with a few of the oIJ uniforms, music and instruments (some 'of which refuse to wake up from their long slee,j) the. banl was stuitfd. New music, instruments and uniforms are wanted, so a call was made to the public who re spondee! in a very feeble manner. Up to the f resent ttra funds tbaf ths band have in hand are hardly er.ough to buy one instrument 1 think this is scarcelyfair to the members of the' band, wto are trying to wake the town up and givfl it a new pleasure. It will surprise the public what a difference the band will make both on Sundays and holidays and at sporting gatherings. It was fairly a shock to me to 6ee the little interest taken in the grand opening social of the band by a certain ser.tion of the community in not com- ! ing forward and assisting, if not in by their presence for a little j while anyhow. Now, for instance, qnly one of the Councillors was present, uainely Mr Munro. The members of tbe Tauranga Band feel grateful towards Mr Munro, for if he had not teen there it would have seemed as if it was a sort of outside show or a private social. Now, is this right for a new public institution to be opened and only ono of the Councillors present, not even the acting Mayor to say one woid of thanks to members of the band ? — I am, etc.,

J. 0. PASCOE. Tauranga, March 30, 1910.