CHINESE AND MUNICIPAL BATHS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 680, 3 December 1909, Page 8

CHINESE AND MUNICIPAL BATHS.

TROTTBLE AT NAPIEE. ' (By TelccroDh — bcaclal i ' l Napier, December 2. tLast night's meeting of tho Napier Borough 'Council was awaited with much interest, as it - lfTas known that the question of the uso ' -.municipal baths by' Chinese wold como up ifor discussion. Tho corregiondenca columns •of tho local papers have been flooded with 1 Pottors on tho,subject, and everyone is curious ito lqarn hpw tho matter will end. Councillor Eagleton had given notice of ,motion as followa.—"That Chinoso bo excluded irom the municipal swimming bath, but may ' oatho in a hot plunger bath, the same to bo reserved tor their uso, provided they purchase tsuihcient ticket? to reimburse tho council for isnch privileges." * The legal opinion from tho borough solicitors ' stated that the exclusion of tho Chinese 09 (constituting a section was ultra vires. ( Councillor Crowley: I think tho solicitors are ,Jiot right at all. Thoy regard tho Chinese as 1 citizens because they have paid .2100 to tho Government, but the mere fact that thoy were allowed, into the country does not make rthem citizens. They are not citizons until thoy are naturalised. -.-• Tho Acting-Mayor (Counmllor-Plowman): In fTiaw of the solicitors' "opinion, I must rule tho motion out of order. It could have no effect if earned, and I am pretty sure that it would aot be carried by the council. IComicillor Crowley Would it bo possible for -U! to arrange special hours for the Chinamen I , qiaughter) The baths closo at 7 pm., and «te emptied every Friday. Could not the j % S nA ho P ersl "HK*[ to bathe .between 7 pm *n<l '-3J. P-m- on Fridays, and then wo could empty the baths immediately afterwards? (Et,newed laughter.) * Councillor Williams Only one Chinaman has «ked for a bath. If he Wants to go in, let US try and reason with him, and got him to go in just before, cleaning" time. (More laughter) * Councillor M'Grath If is a pity that wo cannot pass a by-law causing all premises let to Chinamen to contain a bath I asked tho Inspector of Nuisinces to mnko inquiries and he handed me a letter stating that ho had inspected tho prcmi°ss of nine Chinamenfour laundries and four fruit shops—and ho only found* one bathroom, which apparently iras rarely used. The 'matter was referred back to the Baths Committee to try and arrange a compromise. ' ' > v "