ST. CLAIR BATHS

Evening Star, Issue 24003, 30 September 1941, Page 11

ST. CLAIR BATHS

COUNCIL CONTROL SUPPORTED SWIMMING CENTRE MEETING At last night's meeting of the Otago Centro of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association it was decided to support the Council of Sport in its representations to the City Council concerning the St. Olair Baths, the centre emphasising the necessity for preserving the St. Clair Baths a« a public amenity and a public ewimmitfg pool under the control of tho City Council. The president (Mr W. A. Jenkins) was in the chair. It was decided to recommend to the annual meeting on October 13 that the Otago ladies’, intermediate, and junior championships should bo held on Tuesday and Thursday, December - 9 and 11. It was also decided to recommend to the annual meeting that the practice should bo discontinued of accepting challenges after the Otago team bad been selected. In’ a report made to the New Zealand Council by Mr P. Bach< senior physical welfare officer of tho Department of Internal Affairs, it was emphasised that in New Zealand they had been inclined to restrict tho activities of swimming clubs to competitive interests, with the result (hat a large number who would be interested in the “ fun ” side rather than the competitive side had been neglected. He was quite sure that if this avenue were further explored it would lead to an increasing, of size and financial standing end greater interest in water activities for many more in the community. The council commended ot centres and to clubs close attention to these matters.

A letter was received from the Otago Education Board expressing its apprecia-. tion of the, work which the association and the educational officer (Mr D. C. Banna-' tynel wcre doing in increasing the interest in swimming in Otago schools.