TEPID BATHS

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1922, Page 7

TEPID BATHS

MUNICIPAL NECESSITY

DEPUTATION TO CITY COUNCIL.

<»The need for the provision of municipal tepid baths in Wellington was impressed upon the City Council last night by a deputation, consisting of representatives of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, Royal LifeSaving Society, and the Rotary Club. Couucill M. F. Luckie introduced the deputaton. \

Mr. P. Rundell, on behalf of the New Zealand Swimming Association, urged that a municipal tepid salt water bath was essential in Wellington. The rigours of the climate prevented the use of the Te Aro Baths by 99 per cent, of the population for more than four or five months of the year. It was desired, therefore, that facilities should be pror vided to enable people to indulge in the healthful pastime of swimming all the year round. Such a tepid bath as advocated should be 100 yards long by 20 yards wide, with the necessary accommodation. The tepid bath could be made a payable proposition. REFLECTION ON THE CITY. > Mr. G. S. Hill-(Royal Life-Saving Society) considered it to be a reflection on the city that it possessed no municipal tepid baths, the provision of which had been advocated for a quarter of a century. Auckland had a fine municipal tepid bath, and it was urged that the loan money raised for baths recently (£15,000) should be expended without delay. Tepid baths were not always regarded as essentially paying propositions in the Old Country. The Mayor: "Where would-you get the money from to make up the deficiency?" . . ' ■ ■ Mr. Hill replied that the community would have to find the money to run the baths. '• '■'■ The Mayor intimated that that would imply an increase in the rates. Mr. Hill stressed the point that facilities should be provided for teaching the rising generation the art of swimming. In ten years 1737 lives had been lost by drowning. If the City Council did not provide. more baths, it would be failing in its duty. CONSERVING THE PEOPLE'S HEALTH. - On behalf of the Rotary Club, Dr. Herbert stated that the health of the people must be a first consideration. To achieve this was as much a duty of the local authority as of the Government, but he said definitely that this principle had not been placed foremost heretofore. They had to consider what the city ■, would be fifty years hence. He maintained that the city should provide not only tepid baths, but Turkish baths, and an up-to-date gymnasium as well. The City Council should look at the matter from the point of view of the interests of tho children and the health of the growing generation. „ In reply, the Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.) stated that the council was quite sympathetic. However, he must say that every section of the community was enthusiastic in certain directions, but peoplo did not like to make up losses by having the rates increased. Directly the rates were raised there was a "hul'labuloo." Ho only wished that all the requests of tho people could be met by the council. The City Council, I however, was concerned with the business aspect of civic administration. He had been informed on the best authority that tepid baths did not pay anywhere in New Zealand. The Mayor agreed with Dr. Herbert that the first duty of the local authority was to conserve the health of the people, but if the citizens would only give authority for the v rates to bo increased, then the council would meet any requests made to it. He knew that the matter of Turkish and tepid baths h.id to bo faced, arid he could assure the deputation that its request would receive careful consideration. "SAFELY IN YOUR HANDS." "We thank you for receiving the deputation," remarked Mr. Hill, after tho Mayor had concluded, "and we leave the matter safely in your hands."

The request of the deputation was referred to the Finance Committee. '