Progress League Discusses Hanmer Pool

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29908, 23 August 1962, Page 15

Progress League Discusses Hanmer Pool

Correspondence from the Health Department had again by-passed the question of the type and size of a new thermal pool at Hanmer Springs, it was said when the council of the Canterbury Progress League last evening considered a letter from the Minister of Health iMr McKay).

His department had approached the proposal to replace the Queen Mary Hospital thermal pool with the intention of creating a therapeutic amenity in keeping with its primary purpose and its setting, said the Minister. Full consideration had also been given to continued publ.c access to the pool. The project, however, had to be achieved within certain technical and financial l.mitations. the letter said. "The Health Department has still by-passed the quest.on of the type and size of the pool." said Mr A. R. Blake "I don’t think it should "

Mr Blank-called for action on the project. In nine years of discussion and letter-wri-ting. the league had got

"sweet Fanny Adams.” he said.

The league should ascertain whether there was < nough thermal water at Hanmer Springs for a second pool, said Mr Blank, and. if so. he felt sure that the people of Canterbury would subscribe, and subscribe liberally. for the building of a second pool quite separate from the Health Department if necessary. "The Progress League started the town hall from this room, and this pool is not nearly such a big project." Mr Blank said. Mr Blank contrasted the

present Hanmer Springs pool with Rotorua, ‘•with its beautiful baths." “Hgre we are. the second largest city.” said Mr Blank. "I couldn’t see Auckland or Rotorua putting up with this for a minute. ‘‘As long as we are linked with the Health Department, we won't get very far,” said Mr Blank. The women’s pool at Hanmer Springs was “a disgrace—a little round show that has never been altered in 40 years.” Mr E. G. Beckett, the Canterbury Public Relations Officer, said that Hanmer Springs was getting more and more conferences—but from the last two conferences held there he had heard adverse comment about the hot pool, compared with those at Rotorua.

Mr Blank: It is a most unsatisfactory state of affairs. Mr R. C. Neville suggested a round-table discussion with Dr. G. Blake-Palmer. the director of health services for the Department of Health, in response to an offer by Dr. Blake-Palmer to meet the league. Mr Blank: We’ve been operating under that plan for nine years, and we’ve got sweet Fanny Adams. Mr J. I. Colligan said he thought the league had been going to the wrong Minister. If the pool was to be a tourist amenity, as well as a health one, then an approach should be made to the Minister in charge of Tourist and Health Resorts (Mr Eyre)? “If I were Minister of Health I wouldn’t w’ant to spend money on your pool as a tourist attraction,” Mr Colligan said. The Health Department and the Tourist Department had acted together for many

years in running the hot pools at Rotorua, said the chairman <Mr P. F. Maples). He suggested that the league could meet Dr. BlakePalmer to try to obtain details of the proposed pool—“this will be the third or fourth time we have tried for this information.” Mr Maples said —and also write to Mr Eyre to suggest that his department combine with the Department of Health in the proposal for the new pool. Mr Blank said he would agree to this course. and would move accordingly. The motion was adopted without dissent.