NGAIO PROTEST

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 110, 5 November 1937, Page 6

NGAIO PROTEST

EVANS BAY PAVILION

USE OF THORNDON FUND

A protest against the City Council's use of the Order in Council principle to obtain money for a new bathing pavilion at Evans Bay from the Thorndon Esplanade Compensation Fund was expressed at the monthly meeting of the Ngaio Progressive Association last evening. Members considered that Ngaio had prior claims over other suburbs for swimming material as agitation had been, carried on for fourteen yean and money had been obtained for the purpose; of having swimming baths installed in the district; objection was taken to the fund being slowly used for other purposes. After a special meeting the association had written to the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) objecting to the approval of expending £750 on a bathing pavilion at Evans Bay, as the citizens of Ngaio had been negotiating for fourteen years with the City Council to have public swimming baths installed in the district, but up to the present these negotiations had been unsuccessful, although a sum of money had been expended by the association to secure the necessary land. An allocation of £2800 had been made in 1935, the letter said, for the purpose, but it was later refused. A sum of £6000 had been taken from the fund for street widening purposes, and had not been replaced, although the primary intention of the fund was to provide suitable bathing facilities. Ngaio was feeling very concerned at the fact that the funds held by the Wellington City Council were being entirely spent without any provision being made for Ngaio. : The Minister of Internal Affairs replied stating that the objection would be fully considered. The chairman, Mr. H; L. Cummings, briefly outlined the facts of the fund, and said that the people of Ngaio had waited a considerable period for their long-promised baths. Mr. E. Turksma considered that the installation of baths in Ngaio, was fully warranted. ' i . ' ■ It was decided to send a letter of protest to the City Council. ■ Mr. Cummings, chairman Of a subcommittee set up to investigate the advisability of planting, the railway line through Ngaio, reported that as the General Manager of the Railway Department had not been able to carry out a tour of inspection with the subr committee, it had been decided to postpone the investigations until early next year. - , __^