THE TEPID BATH

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 9

THE TEPID BATH

TO THE EDITOR OF THE I'&ESS. Sir. —Several letters have appeared in "The Press” recently regarding the municipal tepid bath, and I have been asked to lay before you and those interested in swimming in Canterbury the views of the Canterbury Swimming Centre. We have felt for some time past that the present tepid bath is inadequate in many respects. Swimming m Christchurch is undoubtedly retarded through the lack of suitable facilities, and we have already approached the baths committee of the City Council on this matter. We realise, of course, that the council cannot, however much it might appreciate the necessity, commence the construction of a new bath without due consideration of the financial outlay involved. We do urge, however, that with the present Government offering practically free labour to assist such work, that the present time is most favourable for the construction of a new bath. As Mr D. H. Symes pointed out in his article in “The Press,” the bath, ' when it was built 30 years ago, was all that could be desired. To-day there is no doubt that it has practically reached the limit, of usefulness, and considerable improvement in the present facilities is necessary to cater for the present needs of the community. On peak days during the summer the present bath is inadequate to carry the attendances. This is surelv an indication that bigger and better facilities are already a great need. In its present condition the tepid bath is fast losing its popularity. Since the bath was built the population has grown enormously, yet the increase of swimmers is not in proportion. This is undoubtedly because the bath does not appeal to the people. ' The present dressing accommodation, showers, and conveniences are inadequate and badly situated. Investigations have proved that from a health point of view it should be compulsory for bathers to pass through showers and conveniences before entering the bathing area, and this canhot be enforced under the present conditions. The seating accommodation for spectators is also a question that requires consideration. The present accommodation is insufficient and poorly arranged and is responsible in some measure for carnivals held by this centre and the swimming clubs hot meeting with the support they deserve. There is also a great need for the provision of a club room where meetings could be held and life-saving classes conducted. The lack of such accommodation has long hampered the Royal Life-Saving Society in Christchurch and has also driven swimming clubs to look elsewhere for club rooms, whereas the municipal baths should be the headquarters of swimming for the district. With the advent of compulsory swimming instruction in schools there again arises the' necessity for a larger bath, and particularly for a tepid bath. Swimming cannot be taught really effectively in cold water, as the pupil is not as active as a proficient swimmer and tends to take cold quicker. Much has been said about the unhealthy condition of. the water in the present tepid bath, but the City Council has already taken steps to cure this evil. The water at the bath is now being chlorinated, and this must to a large extent eliminate the trouble, but with the erection of a. new bath the installation of a chlorination filtration plant would be automatic, and no one could then doubt the healthiness of the water. The Canterbury Centre is appreciative of all that the City .Council has done to foster the sport of swimming, and has already promised any support that it can give to assist in the erection of a new and up-to-date swimming pool. There seems no question of doubt but that the time has come for Christchurch to acquire a new swimming pool. Such a pool would be a great asset to the city, and we feel that the great benefits that would be derived from such a pool alone warrant its erection. We feel also that a modern swimming pool .could easily become a paying proposition and that the popularity of swimming would be restored if such facilities were provided.—Yours, etc., For the Canterbury Centre, N.Z.A.S-A., DOREEN BROWN, , Hon. Secretary. I July 27, 1938. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—One of the points in the Labour Party’s platform was the raising of a huge loan—something like £lso,ooo—for reading. Well and good, but how much better would have been a policy of seeking the citizens’ sanction of a loan to equip the city with a new municipal bath. Thirty years ago, I see, Christchurch possessed the most modern pool in the Southwr Hemisphere, but over the intervenin'; years nothing has been doiie to main tain that position, and the present pool, by its very popularity, *has become what can frankly be described as a menace to public health, lacking, as it does, adequate protection from bacteria. I think the average ratepayer will readily admit that there is little possibility of a poll for reading being carried, but it ig hard to visualise a vital poll for sanction to borrow for a new bath being turned down. Why. £20,000 would construct and equip a bath that would serve Christchurch for many years to come; and that, divided among the body, of ratepayers, would be a small thing indeed for the benefits to be derived. There is still time for some clear-minded councillor to sponsor such a proposal.—Yours, etc., PUBLIC HEALTH, j July 26. 1938.