Tepid Baths

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 80, 29 December 1930, Page 7

Tepid Baths

' " : - . ■ - ; Sir, —In “The Dominion” of December 24 your swimming contributor, “Plunge,” states in his notes the following: "The conditions prevailingiin Wellington so far this summer have emphasised the fact that the Empire City is very much behind other centres in having no tepid baths in which swimmers can keep fit, even in cold weather. The swimmers of other centres by this time have their season well under way through possessing tepid baths, while the youth of Wellington have only been able to P£gy for the advent of a long-delayed summer.” The writer of the notes in question must be aware of the fact that there is such a thing as tepid baths in Wellington, for he refers later to the attempt of Miss M. Gleitze to lower her own record for endurance test in Tasman Street Baths. The Boys’ Institute committee many years ago made available to the public the tepid baths, and these have filled a long-felt want in the community for a long time now. I do not desire to enter into a controversy on this question, but I would like to point out that there are tepid baths in Wellington open to the public, situated in Tasman Street, and that these baths are open all the year round, except fo.r a short period for the usual overhaul necessary. There is ample opportunity for swimmers to keep themselves fit during the off season, and I am glad to say that many avail themselves of it, and I feel sure of this, that if those governing this very necessary art in Wellington were to encourage the swimmers, many more would come along. Surely there is no need to bemoan the fact of the n'on-existence of tepid baths, which has appeared in the columns devoted to swimmers from time to time, when there 1b one filling the need, and which can accommodate hundreds, and in years past has been the means used to teach so, many of the swimmers, and is still carrying on

the good work. Let the different clubs and centre give the encouragement that is so much needed to carry on the good work under present circumstances, and it may perhaps hasten the day when their desire for municipal tepid baths will be an accomplished fact.- —I am, etc. W. J. JORDAN. Director, Wellington Boys’ Institute. December 26.