BATHING HOURS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 71, 17 December 1937, Page 6

BATHING HOURS

Extension Advocated By

Councillors

UNDRESSING ON BEACHES

The opinion that the Karori baths should open at a.m. and close at 7 p.m. daily was expressed by Gr. M. F. Luekie at last night’s meeting of the Wellington City Council. The mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, an'd several councillors considered that hours for baths generally should be extended so that everybody could use them.

“I agree with Cr. Luekie,” said the mayor. "What on earth is the use of baths if the people in offices can't use them after work? We ought to go into the question of having the baths open for as long as possible.” He referred to the state of the water in the Te Aro baths', which, he said, since the underwater intake had been damaged, was not at all clear. The water had been of a dirty colour ever sine'e the former intake was 'damaged. It should have been fixed long ago. Cr. ,T. Read said that even if hours were lengthened it would not enable people at Karori to use the baths or to get an early swim. Cr. .1. Burns, chairman of the baths and beaches commitee, said the committee had heard nothing yet of extended hours. “As long a 6 there is the business why not open the baths at night, too?” he asked. “Even if there is a small loss shown the baths should be open as long as the public wamts to use them.”. Mr. Mackenzie, director of parks and reserves, said that if people wanted to use the Karori baths at 6 o’clock in the morning they could, and the same provision, could be made at Oriental Bay. There, however, £4 might be taken - one day and nothing for the rest of the week. So far as repairs to the intake at Te Aro baths were concerned, the work would be attended to early in January. Cr. Burns brought forward the matter of persons undressing on the beaches in spite of the warning no-

tices. “Have not the police power to do something to check it?” he asked. “The trouble about the police is that they seem to be missing at the right lime.” It was on fin enights that they should go along Orietnal Bay; where several young men gathered and made it unsafe for passing women. "”-e I. T. M. Brindle said he did no’ wish to be misunderstood, but he did not mind the human form divine. He could not object to people undressing and dressing on the beaches when the sheds were locked. After a little further discussion the report of the reserves, public gardens, baths and beaches committee wa s approved.