Swimming assn hits at council

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34097, 8 March 1976, Page 18

Swimming assn hits at council

Cr I*. D. Dunbar showed a complete lack of understanding of the use of recreational facili- 1 ties by objecting to the emphasis on covered •swimming pools for win-, ter use, said the chairman of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association (Mr M. R. Duck man ton). Mr Duckmanton was reply- ; ing to Cr Dunbar, who objected to the emnhasis on! covered facilities. Cr Dunbar said these were tnainlv for use bv competitive swimmers i“leading a burnt out life of! I slavery for three or four| I years.” ! The remarks were made at .a meeting of the Christchurch City Council’s narks and re-; creation committee, which' was discussing the proposed! sfports and hdo nool complex at Centennial Park, Spreydo n. "Cr Dunbar's statement I wt's completely unfounded.”! said Mr Duckmanton, who livt's in Christchurch and is a member of the Canterbury! Swimming Centre’s management committee. "He has no idea of what use a swimming poof is put to. "Existing covered nools in[ Christchurch are well used by competitors in winter, but : their main use is for the 1 learnrto-swim orogramme —p that is, teaching children, i and in some case’s older

[•people, to swim." said Mr t Duckmanton , "Cr Dunbar will find that lit is the swimmers in slavery 'that have been regularly pai- ‘ romsing the Citv Council’s I pools this summer, and not ..the general public.” J There aoneared to be a . complete lack of cohesion I within the City Council on • 'he use of recreational factl- , ities, said Mr Duckmanton. rhe council should discuss with snorts bodies the poten- . tial use of any facilities It . was snorts bodies which used i|*he facilities most and which ■ paid rentals to the council The council did not do ; enough to promote its facili ties, said Mr Duckmanton, even though it had a recreation officer, presumably for [that purpose. The swimming association i had not been contacted about I the establishment of a covered or outdoor pool in the south-east of the city.