BATHS AND BEACHES

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 73, 30 March 1929, Page 8

BATHS AND BEACHES

A ROUND OF VISITS

DRESSING SHED NEEDS

WOMEN THE WOUST OFF

Tho visit of inspection by members of

the City Council to baths and beaches was rather disappointing as regarded tho number who made the round, not half the councillors being able to give the time. The outstanding need emphasised at each of the main beaches, and at Te Aro Baths also, was of more dressing shed accommodation for men, for women, and for children. This is, of course, no new thing, but at this time of the year, with the estimates only a few weeks ahead, it is very good policy to point out shortcomings once again, in the hope, but not by any means iv the certainty, that all will be iv fair order for next swimming season.

At To Aro Baths the visitors hail recommended for tbc-ir consideration the idea of turning over the women's bath to the children, giving tho men's bath to tho women, and building a new men's bath to the cast, between the present walling and the turn of the parade, whore the roadway is banked up. That is not a new idea, but money is as short as ever.

Tlie serious lack of accommodation at Evans Bay is admitted by every member of the council,' but, even though there was plenty of money, the difficulty there is that there is nothing doliuite as to tho Evans Bay reclamation, and the council is unwilling to spend money on improvements which may have to be scrapped in a few years' time. The council, however, has resolved to endeavour, to obtain an understanding with the Harbour Board, which has control over the reclamation, and there is a fair-chance.of something being done for those who bathe at Evans Bay even though the additions may not be strictly permanent. ! As at To Aro Baths, and also at Day's Bay, it is the women's dressing'shelter that is most crowded; in fact,. those who complain that the conditions are not even decent cannot be accused .of gross exaggeration. At Worser Bay the sand drift nuisance arid the absence of anything like adequate parking space for cars were pointed out. General proposals as regards parking have been put forward, but there are difficulties in the matter of foreshore ownership, and, in any case, many people would object strongly to any scheme which would entail the hiding of' tho natural beauty of the rocky forcsliorc by a levelling out to provide space for cars.

AIM OF SURF CLUES

The visit arose from discussions upon whether the council should permit tlie Lyall Bay Surf and Life-saving Club to enlarge their clubrooms and as to whether financial support should be given tho club in that' regard. Tho present accommodation Was inspected, and tho councillors had laid before them the following statement as to the wishes of club members:—. ■■• ' . •

"We urgently need larger accommodation for our growing membership for a gymnasium, and particularly.for training teams and holding life-saving classes indoors. Whilst requesting some financial assistance from the City Council we appreciate the fact that we cannot expect the City Council to do everything. With that, end in view we have been ■working strenuously during the past ten years to raise a fund to pro-

vido for ourselves, and we liavo now some £000 in liquid assets, which would go a long way towards tho cost of the new clubhouse. Tho present shed is in such a condition that it cannot be added to, nor would it m<iko a decent permanent structure on the beach, and tho committee has decided to petition tho City Council for permission to erect a permanent home that wuuld be a handsome addition to the beach, and built in the style of the ladies' rest room next door.

"Since tlie formation of the club twenty persons have been actually rescued from drowning by the club teams, and'this docs not include minor assistance rendered ou countless . occasions. The main objects or! the club are to teach life saving and popularise surf bathing at Lyall Bay, and to these ends wo invite everybody who uses tiie beach regularly to become members, so long as they will qualify for the bronze medallion of the Royal Life-saving Society. Twenty-five is the to-tal number that cau be elected to the club as nonactive members at one time. The club has trained 325 men who have qualified for life-saving awards and instructors' certificates of the Royal Life-sav-ing Society. Since the clubhouse was originally built (towards the cost of which the club paid £90 and the City Council £50), we have spent £100 in permanent improvements and a considerable sum in furnishing with gear. We have purchased a life-saving boat at a cost of £75, and this has been of great assistance on numerous occasions. Wo have also sent a full team away each year to the New Zealand life-saving championships at various towns of New Zealand. For active members the subscription is only 7s Gel a year—the cheapest sport in the world. It is a record that the club is justly pi'oud of, and which we are sure the City Council is also proud of, and wo sincerely, trust it will give kindly consideration to our request for financial assistance and permission to build a clubhouse that we shall all be proud of and to grant sonic security of tenure so that the Maranui Surf and Life-saving Club can continue to teach the humane art of life saving for all time."

A NEW OUTLOOK?

It may bo that the council will this year handle the pruning knife less heavily in the matter. of baths . and beaches estimates, remarked.one swimming enthusiast, for there is no question that the swimmers are entitled to something better than is at present provided at most of the bathing places, but were less pressing in their demands than they very well might have been on account- of the tepid baths proposal. The council had never been more than half-hearted over that' idea, otherwise it would have tackled it long ago, with the authority given in 1920. Now, however, that the Local Government Loans Board had definitely turned down the baths item of £0-.l,ooo—and there was already an amount of £12,000 to be obtained under the 1920 loan—the hist hope had gone. Perhaps, however, in view of the fact that the council was half-hearted over spending £JG(>,OOO on indoor baths and Turkish baths, the members could now. be persuaded to bo really wholehearted over the oxpendituro of a part of that, sum upon improvemonts''to natural bathing places. It might be that the £12,000 from the 1920 loan could be so applied, though a special legislative clause might have to Vjo obtained. If the council did not want to meet the wishes of the thousands of bathers, then presumably it could not be done, on account of insuperable legal difficulties, btit if there was a real desire on the part of councillors to see fair demands reasonably, met, then at least the legal difficulties might be more than casually investigated.