CENTENNIAL BATHS?

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 264, 4 August 1936, Page 6

CENTENNIAL BATHS?

Something Permanent For Community

BASIN RESERVE SITE SUGGESTED “In my opinion the form of centennial celebration in Wellington should be something that will confer a benefit upon the community for all time,” said Mr. B. A. Mabin, secretary of the Wellington Football Association, yesterday, though he made it clear he was not speaking in that capacity. “So far the only thing suggested has been an exhibition on a wind-blown spot at Lyall Bay. In fine weather this is a fine ground with a lovely view of Cook Strait, but can you rely on fine weather in Wellington for three or six months on end? I am sure that the public will hesitate before travelling to Lyall Bay after the first week or two, unless very powerful attractions are provided. I do not wish to throw cold water on the proposal, but I think the position in regard to holding an exhibition should be examined • very carefully before commitments are made.”

When asked to suggest an alternative proposal Mr. Mabin said he did not know of one which would extend over months, but he thought Wellington ought to get some permanent amenity out of the centenary. For instance, why not centennial tepid baths? “There is something the swimming and athletic community have been battling for over a period of 15 or 16 years,” said Mr. Mabin. “They seem to be no

further forward now than they were when the late Mr. W. H. Morton (city engineer) suggested tepid baths at the corporation yards, and later when the present city engineer (Mr. K. E. Luke) actually got out sketch plans for tepid baths on the site now set aside for the new central library in Mercer Street.

“I suggest that modern tepid baths, with a pool of Olympic dimensions, be provided in the south-western corner of the Basin Reserve, now occupied by a children’s playground. In my opinion these playgrounds, where children are allowed to run wild, are 'hot such a benefit as many people might imagine. This area at the Basin Reserve has always been an odd corner, which no one knew what to do with. Well, put baths there, There is ample room for the pool, and spectators, too, without encroaching on the reserve. They could be built so that the eastern side (walls and roof) could be made a kind of grandstand for Basin Reserve spectators. Some day that ground will be converted into a one-game stadium, with tiers of seats all round, a ground such as is now considered necessary to sport in all the great centres of the world, and the baths structure could be incorporated in such a plan. Such baths would give Wellington something permanent, whereas an exhibition at Lyall Bay will give us nothing, as far as I can see.”