CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 36, 12 February 1940, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE

TEPID SWIMMING BATHS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Once again we hear the question asked: "Why are there no tepid swimming baths in Wellington? The local swimming centre is at present ! conducting the New Zealand National Swimming Championships as part of our Centennial celebrations. Unfortunately, owing to the absence of facilities in Wellington these are being staged at the Riddiford Baths, Lower i Hutt. For years past the local swimming authorities have been asking the City.Council to provide salt water tepid baths, but.have always been put | off with, promises which are never! fulfilled. One cannot understand why Wellington, the Capital City of our Dominion, has not had tepid baths j years ago. They are not a luxury but j a real necessity. Apart from the cony j petitive side, one must agree that many j jof the lives lost annually through j drowning would have been saved had j I the unfortunate ones been able to swim.! j Last year during the "Learn to Swim" campaign, Wellington, in proportion I |to its population, had one of the lowest totals in the Dominion of persons I taught to swim. This was .due to lack of facilities. As one who was interested in the campaign it was pitiful to see both children and adults shivering from the cold whilst being given instruction. At times, in fact, it was so bad that school teachers who brought their charges along had to stop them entering the cold water. I would like to ask the Mayor and City Councillors to realise that tepid baths are part of a modern city and ito see that an early start, is made in providing a long overdue necessity in Wellington. I admit that baths cost money to erect but I feel sure that once built they would, be a good, investment—as has been proved by re^ suits in the other main centres that have tepid baths. —I am, etc, OLD TIMER. February 8.