SWIMMING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 288, 9 November 1925, Page 4

SWIMMING.

CENTRAL SCHOOL BATHS

OPENED FOR SEASON,

Tlie Central -School baths were officially opened for the season on Saturday afternoon, when, owing to the climatic conditions, there was only a fair attendance of children and the XJublic.

In addressing the assemblage, Rev. Harold T. Peat, secretary of the School Committee, first of all apologised for the unavoidable absence of the chairman, Mr H. J. Canton. The speaker trusted that everyone would have a pleasant time throughout the season and mentioned that the committee had spent a considerable sum in putting the baths in better order. Cracks had been filled in and the pool had been thoroughly cleaned. The sides had been painted with lime, making the baths more sanitary and attractive. The committee were to be complimented on the arrangements they had mad© for the convenience and comfort of users of the baths, which were undoubtedly a great asset to their quarter of the town. The committee believed that every boy and girl should learn to swim, for then they some day might be in the position of being able to save their own lives, or perhaps those of others. Ihe headmaster, Mr L. F. do Berry, said that all educationalists considered that the very best form of physical exercise was swimming, for every muscle of the body was brought into play. Central School was very - fortunate in possessing the baths it did, and great thanks were due to those who had been instrumental in getting them for the school. The baths were a memorial to the old ' boys of the S £ lo< r< ' v^lo sacrificed their lives in iu ™t Mar, and ho was certain that there could be no better memorial, the work that the committee was doing was a very fine community work. Improvements had been carried out and other work was under consideration.

As a member of the .School Committee, Mr A. Clark said he had no Sioubt that the boys and girls would make every possible use of the baths, hater in the season the committee would make arrangements for competitions and tournaments with other schools.

i b aths were then declared open by Rev. Mr Peat, who mentioned that the committee had secured the services of an ex-naval "man as caretaker and instructor, and that the hours on week-days would be from 6 a.m. to ° a ' m -> 10 a -m- to 12 a.m. and from J-Ao p,m. to / p.m.