PUBLIC SWIMMING BATHS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13872, 5 October 1908, Page 8

PUBLIC SWIMMING BATHS.

'Sir,—-At tlio recent meeting, held in tho Ponsonby Hall, to form a swimming club, a special feature was made of the fact that the club was being formed for tho purpose of teaching swimming and life-saving. It was clearly understood that members could comb from .any' part of tho city, as was evidenced by tho fact that many joined on tho night of tho meeting who resided in other parts of tho town, -r It 'was felt, howover, that no swimming club could become ;i lasting success without baths to swim in, and . the meeting was of tho opinion that baths should bo started without' delay. I would point out that the city already has two baths— Albert-street and Customstreet—and there is a proposal to erect baths in Symonds-strect, so that it is not out of tho"way for tho resdents of Pousonby to agitato for baths in their district,' considering wo have a population of over 15.000. Shelly .Beach is tho nearest clean and sandy beach to tho city, and I think baths at Freeman's Bay, whoro a sewer runs into tho harbour, are out of tho question. Shelly Beach is not used by Ponsonby residents only, as on holidays thousands of people go to Shelly Beach from all s parts of tho districts of Auckland. Tho club proposes to teach swimming and life-saving to both schoolboys and schoolgirls, and to .issue a certificate and badge to those passing tho test. It is a rule of the Royal Life-saving Society that candidates pass a medical test, which comprises ."knowledge of tho pulse, heart, and ■ other parts of tho body affected in tho case of a partially drowned person. _ Tito club desires, therefore, to havo a suitable room, which can be used as a gymnasium, and whero classes can bo held for tho explanations necessary for life-saving and lectures and instructions given by medical men. Wo have therefore approached tho City Council, asking them, as tho baths question has been temporarily shelved, to orect a room in conjunction with tho dressing sheds, which may bo used for tho purposes I havo just mentioned. P. McNajcee, Hon. Secretary Ponsonby Swimming and Life-saving Club.