MUNICIPAL BATHS

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17058, 1 February 1921, Page 6

MUNICIPAL BATHS

EXTENSIONS PROPOSED. The Baths and Entertainments Committee reported to the Christehurch City Council last night: (1) That there was a distinct shortage of private with accommodation at the Municipal Baths. The committee recommended tho Council to authorise tho extension of tho bath premises to provide for five additional private baths; tho extension to )>e on tho north sido of tho present bath building. Tho estimated cost was £stlo'complete. The report added that (2) tho building would only bo of a temporary nature, as the popularity .of the baths was increasing so rapidly that it was anticipated that new baths would have to be erected as soon as financial affairs wero in a better condition, and, as tho extension would be upon land in tho occupation of tho Electricity Department, tlio department reserved the right t-o request its removal on twelve months' notice being given at ally time subsequent to three years after its erection.

The cash taken at the Baths during the mouth,of December amounted to £239 ltis 3d. The takings during the corresponding month ui 1919 were £153 5s 7d.

Cr. Agar said that, as chairman of tho committee, he did not agrco that the electricity department had the right to the section in question. Ho questioned whether the department owned tho land, and he thought the Baths Committee should not recommend tho Council to erect baths under such conditions. He moved that tho second paragraph of clause 1 should bo deleted. ' This was seconded by Cr. Hunter, who said that tho electricity department having been granted the. use of a building for storage purposes, now wanted the section on which tho building stood as well. Cr. Armstrong moved, as an amendment, that tho clause bo referred to the Finance Committee for a report. Cr. Agar stated that the Baths Committee never intended the report to come forward in its present state. Cr. Jameson said that he understood that the Turkish baths in tho city had been purchased, and would be closed down on February 12th. He had heard that a petition was to como before tho Council next meeting praying that'tho extensions proposed to the Tepid Batflsj should include Turkish baths.

The Mayor suggested that Cr. Agar should consent to the report being referred bade to tho Baths Committee, with a. view to holding a conference with tho Electricity Committee. Cr. Agar said that if he, had not been away in Wellington at the time tho report was drawn up in its present form, it would never have 'been presented.

Cr. Cooke said that the Electricity Committee was not prepared to give way, neither wns the Baths Committee to depart from its stand, and so ho thought that the matter should be considered by the Council as a whole. The Mayor: I think the best thing to do is to hold the whole of this report over to next meeting. Cr. Hunter: I think the Council should decide the matter.

Tho Mayor said _ that at the- recent Bleibtrey carnival it was demonstrated that tho baths were not laJfge enough for requirements, and the present baths should be reserved for women. The fact that tho Council horses were still stabled in Central Ward showed that things wero not as they 'should bo. Those horses should bo put out into tho outer wards.

Or. Agar'fl amendment that clause 2 be deleted, was carried. Cr. Armstrong moved that tho proposal to expend £SOO on extending the Tepid Baths be referred to the Finance Committee for a report. He considered that soon the Council Would be forced •to move in the matter of establishing tepid baths in different parts of the city. There was already a desire m Sydenham that tepid baths -be established there. The motion was seconded by C*r Beanland. Cr. Agar said that the Baths Committee would not think that the time was opportune for building other baths. The extensions could not be built to the private baths in any other place than that recommended by the baths Committee without duplicating the staff. Red herrings in the way of Turkish baths had been brought across the trail, and if the Council was going to deal with the matter in tho same old way of shifting backward and forward there would never be anything done. Cr. Hunter said that smoe the coal shortage a great many more people were making us© of the Tepid Baths, therefore ih<? extensions >were badly needed. At this stage the lights went out, and tho discussion was caried on m darkness, until the staff brought m candles. . , Or. Ai mstrong's motion was lost. Cr. Flesher moved as a further amendment that tho Baths Committee be instructed to confer with the Electricity Committee with regard to tho matter, and as to tho conditions on which the Baths . Committee would have the use of the ground, and report to the Council. Cr. Agar protested against a councillor being allowed to add a cl&uso to the report of the committee. Cr. Flesher, in terming Cr. Agar's protest as "oointing," said that the extended bntfis would only be a temporary expedient. He pointed out that the Electricity Department had to pay' charges for the ground, so surely it had some right to it. Besides, the Electricity provided the henting for the baths at a low cost. Cr. Agar said that the ground was taken over by the Electricity Department simnly by reason of one of its employees altering tho colour of a map, the land then being absorbed by tho dermrtmettt.

Cr. Flesher's amendment was lost by nine to six. and the report as amended was adopted.