SALTWATER SWIMMING BATHS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 24 September 1909, Page 4

SALTWATER SWIMMING BATHS.

1 PROPOSAL TO BE GONE ON 1 ! WITH. I FURTHER REPRESENTATIONS TOJ THE CITY COUNCIL. i A meeting of the Committee and of those interested in the new saltwater swimming baths proposal, was held at the Chamber of Commerce Room last evening, and was largely attendi cd. The proceedings were marked 1 throughout with enthusiasm, j Mr A, T. Maginnity who was voted to the Ohair. stated that a largelysigned petition had been presented to the Oity Council in -favour of Swim- ' ming baths, and a strong deputation had waited on the Council. The deputation had offered 'to bear the cost of taking a vote as to, whether a loan should be raised err- not. The result had not keen satisfactory, the Cpunjil having decided that the only available site for a baths was at the ! mouth of the Maitai, and that as the i cost would be about £4000, no further I steps had been taken in the matter at J present. Mr Maginnity said the feeling had been that the site should be as near the old site as possible. Many would ""strongly object to baths at the mouth of the Maitai. Thay. }tad. been advised toatsaU-fftten baths oould be egeet'ed' "fqr §000, "and it had seemed that there would 'bo very little difficulty in getting the ratepayers to vote for a loan for that amount. The question was whether they should now wait and see what turn municipal mat ters would take, say, in a month or two. But it was a retrograde step to ajjgw a, olty o| the importance of Nelson to' bo "without" ssjitwtjter swimming' Wtlis' . "(Applause). Their future progress anij success depended on the, advantages and privileges they could affo-?<| tq the publio. If they cqulft see a 'Way ouj; of the difficulty they would put their shoulders to the wheel and if it could not be done through the Corporation, it must be done through the publia. He thought they would haye no difficulty in securing foreshore rights, and in forming a company to run the baths. If the Council could not help, he fully be lieved that the matter could be work ed in the way he had suggeste^. (ApThe Chairman read a letter from MJss Hornsby', of Cabragk House School, in which the importance of swimming and the superiority of saltwater baths were emphasised. Mi Maginnity added that all school au thorities held views similar to those expressed by Miss Hornsby. Mr W. W. Snpilgraus was surprised at the stand 1 tak'otr' oy the Council in regard to taking a poll, which would cost the Council nothing. The poll must, however, be in regard to baths at the Port. The proposal to start a company he would support, but thai would mean that the baths would not be ready "this Season. He did not think a company sh-uihil h.av-0 to run the hfitliji— the Qquncil shqvird do -it. if only ih the interests of the children. ' They' had reached a point where the only thing to d<? wgj to wait, Mr Coote suggested that the matter might be worked by means of debentures. He believed that a majority of ratepayers wanted the baths. Mr W. Rout considered it was •essentially a matter for the City Council — it was not wise for a company to -take it up, nor was it a matter for private enterprise;, ffqq ninijy thingswere left to private enterprise. Considering the size of the city, it was a disgrace that they did not have saltwater baths. (Applause). Tlie benefit tq the ghjldron. was inestimable. The ebunc'l had taken 2d off the rates, and this was a mistake— the Council should rather have put on "2d, and- then it could have tackled such a question as the -lip-tllßi 1 ; certainly was ** niatter fqr the Council to take up. (Applause.) Mr T. Field explained what had happened when the proposal wag before tho Qpungi}. Tjie pqq^niittoe had > considered it; but the proposal had ngver come before the full Council for a vote. He agreed that baths were necessary. Mr F. V. Knapp thought they should stick to tbe Council — and continue to urge the Council till they got the baths. He had been in the habit of taking 200 children a week to the baths; but now the children would have to do without their b&thing. They should -jtick to the Council, and endeavour to get baths erected this season. Tbe best bathing was from January to March, and it was wortb while going on with the proposal thia season. . (Applause). Mr Atmore could not see why the 1 Council should refuse to take a poll when the cost thereof was guaranteed. The Council should erect tho baths. A very large number of citizens wished to see baths erected. After further discussion, Mr Squires moved, and Mr Atmore seconded, that the City Council's letter be acknowledged, and replied to to the effect that the Committee did not ask for baths at the mouth of the Maitai at a cost of £4000, but for baths at the Port at accost of £2000; requesting the Council to reeonslder the proposal on that basis; also pointing out that the Committee was willing to bear the cost of a poll of ratepayers; and finally drawing attention to the urgency of the matter. The motion ;was declared carried unanimously, amidst applause. The expenses to date were defrayed, by a collection in the room, the Nelson Swimming Club contributing .-61. It was agreed to call another mectj ing on receipt of a reply from the j City Council. I The meeting closed with a vole of , thanks to the chair.