THORNDON BATHS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 113, 6 February 1936, Page 5

THORNDON BATHS

Official Defence of State of Water

ANALYSIS MADE “Tests seem to prove that the water in the baths was as pure as the water we .drink,” the Director of Parks and Reserves. Mr. J. G. MacKenzie, declared yesterday, when he referred to the problem which has arisen through eye trouble being caused to swimmers on January 29 in the Thorndon baths. “By the use of alum and lime we make the water there cleaner than when it arrives from Wainui.” The Director of Parks and Reserves has received letters from the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. F. P. McLean, and the Victoria University Swimming Club, refuting the suggestion that there was anything seriously wrong with the condition of the water on January 29. The letter from Dr. .McLean reads: ‘‘l have to advise you that the result of the bacteriological examination of the sample of Water taken from the Thorndon baths indicates that the water was, from a bacterial, point of view, equal in standard to a high quality drinking water, and compared more than favourably with the Wellington public supply.” The sample was taken by the Health Department early on Thursday morning, January 30. The letter from the Victoria University Swimming Club, which is signed by the club captain, M. J. Mason, and the secretary, C. T. W. Archibald, reads: “As one of the two clubs which promoted the recent carnival at Thorndon baths, and as a result of which there has been considerable controversy as to the condition of the water, we have been instructed by the committee to dissociate ourselves entirely from these complaints. For the past two seasons our club has held weekly club nights at which various races and polo matches have been contested. Competing swimmers have generally been in the water for periods of about half an hour, and we have at no time received any complaints. In addition, members of the committee have been daily attendants at the baths, and on the night of the carnival several of them were competitors, and they experienced no il' effects.”