WAIPUKURAU BATHS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 80, 16 March 1933, Page 10

WAIPUKURAU BATHS

PROPOSAL ABANDONED. (By Our Special Representative). ’ A public meeting was held in the AVaipukurau Municipal Theatre last evening to consider a proposal originating from the Chamber of Commerce that an Empire AVeek be held in conjunction with a Queen Carnival to raise money for the establishment of a public- swimming baths. His Worship the Mayor, Mr R. McLean, the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr B. L. Wallis, Mr .1 McCarthy, Waipukurau Swimming Club and Mr E. G. Dowrick outlined the proposal to the meeting. It was pointed out that a large percentage of children in the town were unable to swim, and that the existing facilities, which consist of the river, were inadequate for proper tuition. It was stated that the proposed baths, measuring 75 feet long by 40 feet wide and sloping in <lepth from 10 feet to 3ft. 6ins., would cost somewhere in the vicinity of £lOOO to £l5OO, but if the work were carried out by means of unemployed labour about £5OO would suffice. The structure would not impose any further burden of rates on the townspeople. About 160,000 gallons per week at a cost of 2d. per 1000 gallons would be needed to fill the baths. It was mentioned that the swimming club would assume control and the cost to it per week would be 16/- to £l, making a total annual cost to the club ou a 20-week’s basis of £l6 to £2O. The general opinion of the meeting was that the baths would be an asset, but that the present time was not opportune for a scheme of this nature. Several sections of the audience were of the opinion that such a sum of money required for the erection of the baths could be far better expended in alleviating distress among the unemployed of the town The decision as to whether the baths should or should not be gone with at the present time was put to the meeting, 83 voting for and 30 against. However, as a number refrained from voting, and the general opinion seemed to be not in favour of going on, the sponsors of the project decided that as it did not have Hie whole-hearted support of lhe gathering and the time was considered inopportune that it be withdrawn.