TE ARO BATHS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1048, 10 February 1911, Page 8

TE ARO BATHS.

>; : • ■■•• ~ ■■ . ..♦!•' - .'. ,■ ■ .-■■.. '■i ■ QUESTION'OF,'HO DES. . AN EARLY OPENING MOVEMENT^ ■[ Tho question of'tho hours during'which tho municipa'lbaths should remain open .was discussed by tho. City Council last evening, and the recommondation .of.'a coramittoo was ■ thrown out and an op-: posito courso taken, despite- a protest-by the acting-chairman, _ Councillor Smith. The. Baths Committee recommended that a request for the;/oDeiiing-'of Te Aro 'baths; at 5.30 ajn;,"ih lieu of' 6 a.m., be not granted;,. ■>,'•„'•>•,.'•■:. s: •. . Councillor Atkinson eaid .ho had ;eipected the committoe to tako an,opposite course. He'thought it would be a good thing, to try the • experiment of- opening at 5.30 n;m. -'■'•,-■■ ■ . - . ■

Councillor-Smith- said' tho, committee had been advised that only two or three 'people wnntoid.- the baths opened "at halfpast five. If this wero'dono, extra assistance . would be required. Tho conimitteo had under consideration certain alterations affecting hours, tho issue of tickets, ant) tho control of tie baths, generally. These matters would be dealt with, if not by this council, .by its successor.' .Meantime the committee's recommendation should bo adopted. Councillor Fletcher said it was all very well to say thal v pooplo 'would not use the baths if they, wero opened earlier, but how. could this be determined .unless the experiment 'was -tried? Plenty of peoplo' who'had'to go to work 'early would bo glad to,uso. the.baths before six a;m. '• .■!.. ■■■' •' ': ■ -

■Tho'.Mayor: There is aUo'to be considered tho man who works v ' all night, and wants a swim-before'going-home. Councillor Fletcher: "Wo seem to ck.se the baths at the very time when the people want to use them, as on Sundays and holidays." Tho. councillor moved an amendment providing that tho baths be opened, at 5.30 a.m. Councillor Barber seconded., Personally ho would bo glad to havo the baths open at i n.m. instead of 5 a.m. during the . hot weather. .-'.-■ . Tho Mayor: Wowant a good-deal more bath accommodation than we have got. ■ Councillor Frost supported tho view taken bv Councillor Smith. Ono person who desired to uso tho baths before six had induced a few others to back his request nnd-had preferred it in'a "very defiant mood." . The custodian now worked very long hours, and if tho baths were to be kept open longer extra ■ assistance would certainly have to' be "obtained. Councillor Fitzgerald supported, tho amendment. The':'committee * had" been guided by tho custodian, but how could tho custodian know it people wanted-to use the baths earlier than at present? Councillor Morrah said there had been this year a considerable falling away ■ \r revenue at tho baths. On a number of Saturday they, had been monopolised: by swimming clubs, which resulted in serious loss to tho council. He did ■■ not think the general ratepayers should be penalised to provide swimmers with cheap baths. Councillor,Cohen thought there should be a" reorganisation of tho whole'management. One man should not be expected to look after the. baths from .five o'clock in tho morning to nine at night. Theicoiriiniltee knew that the system of tickets was lvront.; -At present a. man whoibought a'ticket, could tako it; away and ,use it again. . i". On a division the amendment was carried by nine votes to six. ■ ■ ' • ; Councillor Smith'mentioned the matter of securing extra assistance. The Mayor said, tho committee could bring down a recommendation at next meeting.