TEPID BATHS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 144, 15 December 1933, Page 10

TEPID BATHS

A HOPEFUL SCHEME

APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL

POWER HOUSE SITE

The City Council last evening approved of certain general plans for the erection of tepid salt water and slipper ' Ijaths and Turkish baths on the sito of the old lighting power-houso in Mercer and Harris Streets. The greater part of the finance is fairly well assured, and if the hopes of the chairman of the reserves committee (Councillor J. Burns) can be realised, the scheme cat! be proceeded with. The tepid bath movement goes back very many years, said Councillor Burns today, and the power-house site had been recommended many years ago and had been approved by the then council, though later the corporation yard locality was suggested and the decision to place the baths on tho power house site was rescinded. Plans were drawn up at that time for a very elaborate bath, to cost about £80,000, but the council decided that it could not embark on such an expensive scheme, and since then the idea had been held in abeyance. There were means, however, by which tho scheme could now be financed. The old power-station building, he continued, has been idle for four years, and in the opinion of the committee it offered real advantages for the purposo in view. It was central, and when strengthened and improved could be made quite suitable, and further, pipe lines already connected the site to the sea water supplies. FINANCE POSSIBILITIES. In the loan schedule of 1920, said Councillor Burns, one proposal sanctioned by the ratepayers provided £ 26,875 for the establishment of hot salt water baths, Turkish baths, and . the Thorndon baths (now built). A sum of £14,100 was raised in 1922, leaving £12,775 in the loan. At that time a good deal of street widening was in hand, and as funds were short the council secured legislation to spend £7000 of the balance for the widening of Wakefield Street. Though the diversion had been mado on legislative authority, Councillor Burns considered that there was a moral claim at least on the council to refund that amount out of revenue in order that it could be applied to the purpose for which it was sanctioned. Of the amount authorised in 1920 £5000 still remained, but the loan had run out in June of last year, through not being formally renewed, and although he did not wish to reflect on the administrative staff he did think that the council should have been aware that the loan was running out so that steps could have been taken to extend its life. The City Solicitor had now advised that it was not possible to do anything further. FROM THE THORNDON ESPLANADE. J As compensation for the land taken at Thorndon Esplanade there was on fixed depMit a sum of £13,851, continued Councillor Burns, and that amount, together with the £7000 taken by the council from the baths loan moneys for street widening, would assure the finance for the baths scheme, for the estimate prepared by the City Engineer placed the probable cost at. £21,120, but that estimate did not provide for Turkish baths. The pool would be 100 feet long and 40 feet wide, the depth of water varying from 3ft to r 9ft. There would be dressing accommodation for 100 adults, besides dressing rooms for boys and girls. TURKISH BATHS AND SEATING. During the discussion some councillors expressed the opinion that seating accommodation was necessary and • others that Turkish baths should be provided. It was pointed out that such additions would involve more money than could be made available, but finally it was agreed that detailed plans should be prepared by the engineer for the scheme first put forward, also with provision for seating and Turkish' baths. The council agreed that the £13,800, the balance of the money received as compensation for the Thorndon Esplanade, should be made available for the baths' scheme. GENERAL SUPPORT INDICATED. The council, said Councillor-Burns, in its decisions last night made no definite commitments, and when tenders were received -the whole position ■would be further considered, probably in April or May. But, he added, the remarks made by the councillors indicated that they .were behind the rese.ryes committee in their endeavpur to provide baths facilities.' Naturally the question of cost of administration and maintenance was raised, and that U3p"ect was being inquired' into carefully by the engineers. ,It was remarked, that tepid baths in other centres were^not paying, but in Christchurch, he understood, the tepid baths were meeting the outgoings, and it was questionable whether more could be expected. Should not one regard such facilities as one looked at the gardens and reserves? The baths would offer facilities which could not be valued wholly in their monetary return on the outlay, and unquestionably a large body of citizens was keenly desirous that such facilities should be provided.