ROOM FOR SWIMMERS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 15, 19 January 1932, Page 8

ROOM FOR SWIMMERS

EVANS BAY BEACH

RIGHTS OF CITIZENS

RENEWED AGITATION

Strong exception to the manner in which the Wellington foreshorje was being encroached upon by the* Harbour Board and the..City Council ivas taken by Mr. H. E. Fisher at last! evening's meeting of the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Swimming Association.

_ Mr. Fisher stated that the Jcity .Council in its efforts to ameliorate the unemployment situation, was • threatening to encroach on the citiaens' rights. Swimming facilities were of paramount importance, especially to the children, and he considered that sonif© action was necessary to conserve the Jfcreshore. At Evans Bay this was motst apparent. "We must keep our eyes, open," he said, "for anything that may encroach on swimming in the WaJilihgton harbour." ■.-.'■■ , .

It was quite conceivably'that the Harbour Board in its enthusfiasm' to serve the city would build fu:c-ther shipping facilities in this.part. ' ■'There is a largo portion in these suburbs that the Harbour Board owns, whSeh is used byresidents and children rattpnding schools, and which we, as a centric, will lose unless we get the assistantje of the Foreshore Protection League.;" He had spoken to Mb. E, Semple, M.P., who was very active in the matter. "For some time past," he said, "the matter has been, in a state of quiescence.' Now the I unemployment situation is very serioius, and we must guard very jealously Bhe interests of children if we are going to get satisfactory results in swinßming. It is one of our duties to watch these matters."

A delegate; "The City Council will be with us in the mat'ber."

Mr. B. Mclvor: "It is a vital question to swimming in Wellington. The question 'of baths is quite a live issue." It was most necessary to preserve these open spots for sea lfcathing. He was of opinion that the ~m atter should be left in the hands of two or three members of the committee.

. Mr. N. McCartney: "The Evans Bay Foreshore Protection', League has organised a petition to asking that the foreshore 1»e preserved." The Harbour Board had.' power to reclaim Evans Bay, and the foreshore was now out of the hands of the City Council. The Harbour. Boarid would probably say that.there was iio need to worry, as nothing was likely* to be done' for a long time in the 10-jnlity, btit it was the, object of the leag Be to protect it for all time. ."The lirague committee has been -non-active flbr some .time," he stated, "but it wilj| be brought together again to take some action."

.The-league-.desired to preserve-, only a strip of the' foreshore and not the whole bay.; The, portion.1 they were petitioning for was that' between the Evans Bay baths and- t*ie Patent-Slip. The Wellington Centr«!. was represented on the league, but unofficially. Mr. P. Coira: '*'I think we ought to be there officially^'' The position needed watching, for,the bathing accommodation was very . Mr. W. Gcrrici: ''The beach is probably one of tlie safest in New Zealand, and certainly in Wellington." It was a popular resort, but the bathing facilities:were very poor; there was only one. small;'shed there. The City Council did not hold, security of tenure, but it was quiljte a good spot for tepid baths

The Chairnirin: "The executive lias the question eft baths ,ii front 'of it, and Wellingtoii can rest assured that something will, be done in the matter." The'present tiime was most satisfactory for 'work in thlis direction, as unemployed labour coufld be used. ■■'<''■