Public Baths for Females.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 222, 15 November 1888, Page 3

Public Baths for Females.

At the meeting of the Borough Council on Tuesday night, the following clause in the Borough Inspector’s report was read: — I enclose plan for dressing shed for females; also, list of those who have promised to assist, amounting to £l9 15s. In my last report, I spoke of this as a place for girls attending the Government school. I should only have said for females—any one, old or young, who choose to use it, the same as. the boys' shed. The cost of material will be: For shed 20ft x 10ft, £2l, or if 14ft x 10ft, £l6, which your Council is respectfully asked to provide. I ask your Council to look at this from a strictly sanitary point. Females, if they wish to bathe, require a place to undress in. Last year, 20 or 30 females used to bathe at the end of Disraeli Street. Directly they got into the water, two men used to put in an appearance and sit near their clothes and keep there for some time. Myself and others laid in wait for them for several mornings, but the first morning we left off these men appeared again. A dressing room will stop any of that sort of thing.—The following is the list of those who have promised to assist in the erection of the dressing shed:—Mr Doleman (2,000 bricks), £6 ; School Committee (laying bricks), £4 ; Mr Wilkinson (superintending), 10s; Messrs Brooke, Sawyer, and Phiprs (carting), 15s; Mr Bull (hedge), £1; Mr ChudIcy (planting hedge), £1; Mr W. O. Skeet (door and turnstile), £1; Messrs B. Sherrill, H. Steele, and myself (erecting shed), £3; Mr T, Morrison (painting shed and writing notice boards), £2; Mr J. Brown (iron work), 10s.— Sergeant Bullen has promised every assistance on the part of the police to keep this place private for females. Cr Lewis thought the Council should vote £2O towards building a bathing shod for females. The request was a very reasonable one, end should bs complied with.

Cr Taylor seconded the proposition, Cr Lucas looked up the Act, and said they had full authority to erect the baths. At the previous meeting, when the matter was brought forward, he was under the impression that the shed would ba for the exclusive use of school children, and he was therefore opposed to the Council taking any steps in the matter, but since then be found out that it was also for the use of adult females. Therefore, he would now support the motion. Or Joyce wanted to know what the Council had tu do with providing bathe for the children at school, They had done without anything of the kind for a length of time, but if it were required he thought that the requisite funds should be provided by the School Committee. With reference to adults bathing, it was laid down in the by-laws that male adults should bo provided with trunks, and, so far as providing for the adult females, he did not think the Borough Council ought to do so. He thought it was jumping boyond the boundary line altogether. Cleanliness was a thing to be approved of, but nt the same the School Committee were the proper authorities to provide tor this. Cr Coleman asked who should have control of the baths ? Cr Lucas said under the section of the Act the Council would.

Cr Coleman said the public were giving £l9. He thought it was fair enough for the Council to give the other £2O, on the understanding they had full control. Or Joyce said a clause in the Act referred to oases in which the Council would have authority over the baths and charge a small fee so as to remunerate the ratepayers for the coat incurred. Cr Lewis said the section allowed that the Council should have power to charge or not. He did not see that any charge should be made—it was a trifling sum for the Council to vote for the purpose. There were 500 or 600 children attending the school, and he thought they could be called a portion of theinhabitante. Even if the bathe were intended for the school children alone, he considered they were in justice bound to grant the request, but the baths were for females young, and old.

Cr Joyce thought time should be givenjto consider the matter. He did not see how the money could be used for providing baths. Had they been for children only he thought the Council being the ruling power, the subject could be referred to them, but it it came to the Council being asked to provide baths for the adult population he thought it would cost more than they were in a fair way to pay. By-laws as to bathing already existed. Besides with regard to the site proposed it was not a very safe place for ladies to bath on account of sharks that had been seen up the river, Cr Townley (laughing): Add to the amount and make the place safe. Cr Joyce said that would be too expensive, and they would have to apply to the Harbor Board for permission. He moved as an amendment that the proposal be allowed to stand over. There was no seconder to the amendment and the proposition was carried, Cr Joyce being the only dissentient,