BATHERS ANNOYED

Evening Post, Volume cxxiv, Issue 148, 20 December 1937, Page 12

BATHERS ANNOYED

HOURS AT KARORI

"STAY-IN" AS PROTEST

NEW TIMES ARRANGED

The hand-bell rang out its time warnings as usual at the Karori Baths yesterday. "Get your money on, the 'tote' is closing," a stentorian voice shouted as the bellringer, just before 5 p.m., gave his final intimation that closing time was nigh. There was no rush to be on, or, for that matter, to be in, and nobody at that moment was actually in the water. Soon afterwards the attendant's job was done; the doors were locked, and that was the end of it so far as he was concerned. But he went off—be it said, not without advice from one who counts —leaving the baths in possession of twenty or more people who .showed no disposition to leave, and who, in the main, accommodated themselves on the grassed terraces. A good place for sunbathing those terraces afford, but hardly so after 5 p.m. with a fairly keen northerly wind and clouds tending- to chill the air at the end of a warm afternoon. Moreover, the assembly was not dressed for sunbathing. Obviously there was something "on the boards," and, sure enough, it was not long before a swimmer went off the board —the diving board. He had another to keep him company in enjoying the water previously forbidden at that hour on a Sunday. They and those inside on the terraces had on them the official eye of the Director cf Parks and Reserves (Mr. J. G. MacKenzie) and the.district policeman, and a small gallery looked on from outside, the fence. Nothing much else happened, except that some drifted away and others waited on. It was a long wait—until somewhere near seven o'clock, when one or two had their final dip. IDEA O£ DEMONSTRATION. That ended what • can be put down as one of the most novel of a form of protest which seems to have .become the vogue—the stay-in strike. Believing possibly in the adage, "the better the day, the better the deed," yesterday was chosen for a demonstration, hurriedly arranged and perfectly quiet and orderly, by way of objection to I the early hour at.which the baths are I closed, and somebody hit. upon the idea of a "stay-in" strike as the form of protest. It was felt by many that the baths were closed too early, certainly too early for those business men who on weekdays did not arrive home before 6 p.m. The hour of closing on Sunday was also regarded as being too early, especially in view of the fact that to gain admission it is necessary to be at the baths half an hour before closing time. Those who had the cause at heart sat it out well, and the Director of Parks and Reserves sat it out with them. There were one or two who, arriving after 4.30 p.m., were unable to join, those who had their dip after hours. Notices posted at the entrance gave, details of the hours when the baths were open, but they were shown as "November hours"—Monday to IYiday, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., 12 noon to 6.30 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 12 noon, 1 -p.m. to 5 p.m. It was suggested that December hours might differ from those posted. From inquiries of the Director of Parks and Reserves it was gathered that as from Tuesday the baths would be open on week days until 8 p.m. CHILDREN WAIT OUTSIDE. A sequel to yesterday's "stay-in" was what was thought to be a "lockout" today. Many children were keen to be in the baths this morning, and were disappointed to find them closed. The usual hours, of course, were being observed, but being holiday time it was thought that provision would be made to meet the needs of those school children desiring to spend the morning at the baths. SOME SUGGESTIONS. One of those interested in proceedings at the Karori Baths yesterday puts forward the suggestion that flood-light-ing should be installed and swimming carnivals held in the evenings during the summer, as is done in other centres. An amplifier for music and announcements would also help to make the baths popular in the evenings, and a small buffet would be not only acceptable but profitable. "I guarantee," he said, "that if a private company ran it it would do very well out of it."