A PUBLIC BATH FOR FEMALES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 222, 15 November 1888, Page 2

A PUBLIC BATH FOR FEMALES.

At the last meeting of the Borough Council two or three matters of interest camo up for discussion, The question of erecting a bath tor females involves a wide principle, but when all things are considered we think the Council took a course which was not only legally right, but which they were in duty bound to take. It is unfortunately too often the case that people expect the governing bodies to take the initiative in matters which really ought not to go beyond the region of private subscription, and' therefore it is wall that a keen eye should ba kept on proposals of this nature. For instance had these bathe been intended for schoolgirls only, ratepayers might well ask why the parents of those girls did not themselves provide the accommodation, and parents whose only offspring are those " horrid boys •’ might reasonably object to paying for that for which they had no need. But when we have before us ths proposition as made to the Council, and private guarantees of about half the expense, it is a surprise to us that any Councillor could offer objection, Besides ordinary facilities for bathing which are available to males they have a monopoly of the Carnarvon street shed, and surely the females are much more entitled to consideration. The site and plan are the only points upon which there might be a difference, and there is the remote possibility pf similar applications being made in the future, fen*-the Council has the controlling power and shod!'! be able to judge, It is really too bad of CouiiCi’lot J°yo? making such jokes about the proposed Site bring dangerous on account of sharks : these little jokes are very weak, but they may cause much groundless apprehension amongst nervous persons.