NEED FOR ACTION

Evening Star, Issue 22462, 6 October 1936, Page 3

NEED FOR ACTION

STATE Of ST. GLAIR BEACH BECOMING “WORSE AND WORSE" “ The great charm of St. Glair lies in its beach,” said Mr .1. L. M'Jndoe, president of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Surf Life Saving Association, in directing attention at the annual meeting of the‘association last night to the bad state of the beach and to the need for further amenities in the neighbourhood of the surf pavilion. •* Man's agency in the shape of the Esplanade seems to have ruined the beautiful sweep of beach that existed 40 years ago, he remarked, “and man’s agency should restore it.” Mr, MTudoe congratulated the Domain Board on cleaning up the paths and improving the frontage to the sea. He said he hoped the Tramways Committee of the City Council would not delay too long, but would clean up the children’s playground and improve the grassed portion surrounding the surf club pavilion. The area was really becoming a disgrace, and in wet wpather it w-as dangerous. The area required to bo turfed thoroughly. Mr MTndoe went on to refer to the state of the beach, aud said that in his memory he did not recall it being so bad as it was at present to the full extent of the Esplanade. Steps should be taken, he submitted, to get the advice of a competent marine engineer before the beach disappeared altogether. “It is getting worse and worse,” declared Mr M‘lndoe, “ and it may bo merely a coincidence that, as the Esplanade has been extended, the beach has got worse.” There should be no further extension of the Esplanade in its present form, he asserted. Some endeavour should be made to carry out a proposal put forward by the late Hon. Mark Cohen 20 years ago—a breakwater extending out from the St. Clair Baths. Mr J. R. Callender said that the St. Clair Improvement Association had been doing its best for some years to get something done to the children’s playground, and had taken the matter up with the Tramways Committee, but had not been very successful. The Improvement Association had no funds, and, after all, it was a council job. Mr M'lndoe: “The work should be done immediately, before the dry weather sets in.” Mr Callender said that the Improvement Association had a scheme to have the children’s playground fenced so that small children would be safe there. Reference w-as also made to the need for better lighting on the extended part of the Esplanade, and it was decided to write to the St. Kilda Council on this matter. Mr Gillies referred to the danger to bathers from the piles in the beach as they were at present. “ There is sure to be a drowning fatality there,” Mr Gillies declared. It was almost impossible to prevent the life saving lines from becoming tangled round the piles, and if the Domain Board was not going to pull the piles out, then it should board them up, and the sand would back round the boards. At present the piles were “ completely ” useless aud dangerous.” It was decided to write to the Domain Board, pointing out the danger existing from the piles, and asking that thov should either bo boarded up or pulled out.