£5975 SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 95, 18 October 1935, Page 4

£5975 SCHEME

ORIENTAL BAY BATHERS

APPROVED BY COUNCIL

CLAIMS OF SUBURBS

A further stage in the well-drawn-out debate over the spending of the i £14,000 received by the City Council from the Railway Department in compensation for the taking of Ttiorndon Esplanade was reached by the council last night, when approval was given to the recommendation of the reserves committee that £5975 should be applied for the provision of dressing accommodation at Oriental Bay. Previously the council had decided that £4800.should be spent on the Karori baths and £1000 on the improvement of Thorndon baths. Last night's discussion ran along well defined district lines, unkindly referred to by one councillor (not a candidate) as political district lines. The committee's recommendation was that application should be made to the Governor-General in Council for approval of the expenditure of £6975 for the provision of bathing accommodation at Oriental Bay, less £ 1000 for conveniences to be provided in the building for which provision has been made in the 1927 loan, that is, a net amount of £5975. .! PROBLEM RECONSIDERED. Councillor J. Burns, chairman of the committee, said that when the original proposals for the allocation of the £ 14,000 were brought down a general feeling was evident at the council table that something should be done for Oriental Bay. The committee had previously discussed Oriental Bay, but it ,was thought at that stage that there were insufficient funds. However, in view of the distinct feeling that provision should be made the committee • again went into the question. • If the band rotunda were removed a considerable addition of available space could be made and a plan was prepared to make the best possible use of the site. The band rotunda had already been twice shifted and would not stand a third removal, so that it would now have to be scrapped altogether. Provision, however, would be made for the holding of band concerts on the flat top of the bathing shelter: The accommodation proposed ■ would obviate the objectionable feature which had marked the use of Oriental Bay during recent seasons and the beach would be in no way interfered with. The- Karori baths and the provision of accommodation at Oriental Bay would involve a total expenditure of £12,000, leaving £2000, to which would be added about £1000 which would be received by way of subsidy on the two works. The committee had received many suggestions as to the allocation of the £3000, and it was at present inquiring into these proposals. WHAT ABOUT NGAIO? -Councillor K. A. Wright, M.P., asked if any of the money was going to be spent ; on Ngaio.. The council had practically endorsed the Ngaio scheme and he understood that was still in view. Councillor Burns said that had not been lost sight of. Councillor P. Butler said that if they agreed to the proposal there would be nothing left for Ngaio. He opposed tho proposal because he believed it would be money misspent. The building wpuld .be a. very nice one but there was' nothing but rock' in front of the site.' Provision for 400 people was to be made and if they got that many there they ■ would have to. lie on the roof because there was insufficient beach. In addition there were already baths at Te Aro. If the new baths were built the old ones would be left as an eyesore and a white elephant. ; ■ ■ ; He moved that the matter should be. referred back to the committee. Councillor .W. Appleton seconded the motion and Councillor-Black also supported it. . AND THE EASTERN BAYS. Councillor W. J. Gaudin said He agreed that • bathing sheds were required at Oriental Bay, but if they spent £6000 there they would have, nothing left for the other beaches and there was great need for accommodation in the eastern suburbs bays. Councillor R. McKeen, M.P., said he had been assured that there was sufficient money for the proposed schemes and consequently he approved the proposal. They had been told that sheds could not be erected on the beaches out of capital money but a test was to be made on that point.. He was not going to support the Oriental Bay scheme until he knew, what was available for other districts. Councillor McKenzie said they should spend the money where it would do most good for the great bulk of the people. Wellington had not got a place where parents and children could go to bathe or wade in safety. They should not be backward at pro-viding-such provisions. Councillor Burns said they could not expect to supply the whole of a £20,000 schedule out of £14,000 and then spend £6000 at Oriental Bay on top of that. The schedule was to run over two years and other districts had a claim. Referring to Ngaio he said that he had not received the engineer's report but he understood that it would be absolutely impossible to fill the baths with the water available. They would have to-draw on;, the city, water supply. Baths . had been asked for at Evans Bay and as that would be largely used by school children the Education.-. Department should contribute something towards it. The Oriental. Bay proposal would not affect the revenue of the Te Aro baths. The committee was unanimous in its intention to carry out the baths schedule with one or two exceptions. ALL SUBURBS WILL BENEFIT. Councillor T. Brindle congratulated the committee on its recommendation. The people of all suburbs would benefit from provision made at Oriental Bay. which, in his opinion, was the most important bathing place anywhere about th? city. The money could not be spent- iri any belter way. Councillor Luckie said that he fully agreed with what had been.said of the vital importance of making provision for the maintaining of common decency at Oriental Bay. Either the council had to provide accommodation or had to prohibit bathing there altogether. There was no question of any loss of beach for the sand had been making slowly and steadily ever since the. seawall was built. .."

Councillor Butler's amendment was lost by eight votes to five, and the committee's recommendation that accommodation at Oriental Bay should be put forward for approval was formally carried.