WELLINGTON'S SWIMMING BATHS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 939, 5 October 1910, Page 6

WELLINGTON'S SWIMMING BATHS.

: ;f'-'..'.';..'./...'» ; . — ',' ; From the interview with Councillor LuKE/'which we publish elsewhere it will beVseen 'that there is at last some prospfect), of the City Council •abandoning ife remarkable custom of lockingi.tke;- public. out of the municipal ba:ths r 'o'n.^holidays. i Many projtests hav%.bep.n" made in the past against theUpractice.of. closing the baths. on the very days', ■when .the people .are' most at liberty.to use; them, but up' to the present,without avail. .The object, of the Council: has been to give the caretakers .at the baths'a'holiday, and;to this end it has not only inconvenienced hundreds of bathers, but has, sacrificed revenues which would have., paid the wages of deputy-caretakers over, and again., 'Nobody, .'of course,' wishes to see the already.' long ' of the baths' custodians- further. ..extended, and -there-, is no 'need that theyshould bei If the Council were to ! apply 'its baths policy to other departments the city would: find itself; - for instance, without a tramway, sef'vice on those days when, it most de-' sires to gei out t,o the suburbs and the seashore. ; The difficulties which have been overcome in the,maintenance of a holiday, tramway service employing hundreds of men should not prove insuperable in-the case of ; the two, custodians at the , baths. ■ .Bathers will also be pleased to note, from Mr.' Luke's statement that there is 'probability, of Te ■Arb 'Baths -being" opened contimi,ously throughout: the day,'. and the 'present practice ;of. closing down, from noon to 2 p.m. done away with. In "•■ this connection, the ''suggestion• which has, been made, for the opening of the Thorndon Baths to men during the midday luncheon hours is worthy of consideration, as is also that for, the:extension of the meagre ladies' hours at the same baths.