WOMEN’S POOL AT HANMER SPRINGS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27374, 12 June 1954, Page 9

WOMEN’S POOL AT HANMER SPRINGS

Sir, —I think some vast'improvement should be made in the women’s pool at the baths at Hanmer Springs. I have no criticism of the staff in attendance; in fact, I think they do an excellent job under the conditions. But in spite of their care, there has already been one near-drowning case these holidays, after at least three during the Christmas holidays. At busy periods the size of the pool is totally inadequate, and to me it is ridiculous that the steps or stairway down into the pool are the only position for the younger children to play if they do not hang around their mothers’ necks. How can you look after two or three or more children? No doubt a new pool will be built after someone drowns, but I think action is well overdue now.—Yours, etc., STANDING ROOM ONLY. May 17, 1954. [The Director-General of Health (Dr. J. Cairney) said the department was fully aware that the present baths were inadequate to meet the mounting visitor traffic, particularly over holiday periods. Major improvements in the bathing facilities were contemplated. So far, however, owing to the number of urgent projects already included in the building programme of the Department of Health it had not been possible to give priority to this work.]