SWIMMING BATHS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4772, 14 November 1935, Page 5

SWIMMING BATHS

NEW SCHEME MOOTED. AT A COST OF £350. "If we can build swimming baths for £350 the proposition is definitely in sight/' said Cr. Low at the meeting of the Borough Council on Monday evening during a discussion on this question, and after reference had been made to a scheme to build standard size baths of limesto'ne rock for the sum mentioned. If the Council would give the public a lead, he thought it should be possible to raise that sum for their construction. Early in the meeting a reply from the Minister of Internal Affairs had been received pointing out that no grant could be made from art union funds. Mr. Low later held that this reply did not close the matter, for the engineer had been going into an alternative proposal to that which had been considered up to the present time. This was for a standard size bath constructed of limestone rock. It would be of regulation size, and would have a paddling pool for children attached. The limestone would lend itself naturally to decorative purposes, and the er.gineer had mentioned that such a bath could be constructed for £350. If the scheme was pursued, then at that figure if the Council would take the initiative in organising the raising of these fu'nds in co-operation with the Swimming Club and all organisations or persons interested, there was no need to consider the raising of a loan. The engineer said the suggestion was to construct the baths near the Lawrence Street bridge in the area already planted in trees. In this setting the baths could be made very decorative. The pump, provision for which was made in the cost, could draw the clear water above Lawrence Street bridge, while little excavation would be required. The expense of installing baths hear the school would be considerably higher owing to the difficulty of securing water, and the greater excavation. In answer to a question, he said that the limestone baths could quite readily be tiled at a later date. Cr. Low said there might be some objection on the grounds that already an appeal for funds for Band uniforms was being made, but as the figure quoted was comparatively small and the objective so well worth attaining there could be no harm in carrying forward the organising at the same time.

A general discussion on the question followed, during which it was pointed out that the King Country having been included in the Taranaki swimming centre, delegations would probably be visiting this district at an early date to further the interests of swimming.

Eventually Crs. Low and Johnson were appointed to meet this deputation.