BATHING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 123, 17 February 1908, Page 8

BATHING.

• .... ■■ ... / - ' --Al/■ The prolonged spen' ofiunusually. hot r,eather : has filling and .driven young; and old into the 'iva ter; , Probably the host,,, stretch, of'/water ; foi : . bathing" , in. anywhere ,cityi' is.' the .To. Aro boat harbour, and of late this"-place'-'has gained grent popularity as a public; bath. - For the man.;or boy who can:;swim,-<the-boat harbour offers:. much greater." attractions: than. ...the. baths -proper. - At thoV.Te'. Aro,.. baths,, we may mention, it is-- almost- impossible -to. have what could.be termed'a swim. even at -hijjh water,, and when the tide is'low ( the, bath ,in question is a. good place to keep, away_ from. Consequently, the; boat; harbour, with its unrestricted hours, ' has : become' 'the,. popular swimming place of a. great: number of . boys and men. We can see no reason why bathing should not bo allowed in the place in: question, but .there.' is m-gent need for closo . supervision . of.the bathing costumes worn by. swimmers in :i shell a' public place. Tho boat harbour is overlooked by a .popular public para.de, and wd.CWould-suggest that no one should be allowed to bathe in the harbour without wearing the,regulation , neck to knee costume. The most; exacting, could hardly take exception, to this; costume; -but if men persist, in-bathing .in -the .enclosuro with the scanty; clothing some, of : them now, affect, steps will have to to debar them. Another ;matter, that should be looked into, and this comes within the province of the' police, 'is ,the. dressing ' accommodation at thp harbour., It is no uncommpn_,tliing'at present to . seo naked urchins sijnning themselves in,' the. open view ...of: those who stop on the parade, and look into tho boat liarbour. An occasional ,visit by. a policeman would no doubt impress'it upon tho youngthat they arolaying V. themselves ■; open to a .'charge: of indecency..-It should'be made clear', that it' is a privilege to .be allowod to ■ swim ' in : . the v boat' harbour at all,- and that , or';'undressing- within view of' the public will '-npt'be 'tolerated.