SWIMMING BATH HOURS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19871, 15 February 1928, Page 12

SWIMMING BATH HOURS.

" EXTENSION NOT FEASIBLE." PATRONAGE NOT SUFFICIENT. LOSS TO CITY COUNCIL. Extension of the bathing hours at the three swimming . baths controlled by tho City Council, as advocated by a correspondent in yesterday's Herald, is not deemed • feasible by Mr. J,. B. I'aterson, acting-chairman of the Parks Committee of the City Council. Not one of the baths returns in revenue the outlay involved, he said yesterday, the one most nearly approaching the payment of its way being the tepid baths in Hobson Street. " We would like to do more for the public in some directions," added Mr. Paterson, " but that can only be done by greatly increased patronage or by higher admission charges. Before we had to heat the water the tepid baths were a paying proposition, but we are losing money there now, and at Parnell and Shelly Beach." Mr. Paterson is a particularly frequent visitor to the Parnell Baths, and he said observation had shown him that tho opening of the baths after 6 p.m. would not be warranted by the patronage. While tho baths were at present Attracting large numbers of swimmers, it had to be remembered that for about eight months in the year the baths produced practically no revenue. He regarded the present hours as reasonable, and thought those desiring a swim had a wide enough choice of time. It was unreasonable to expect the caretakers to work longer hours, and the patronage did not warrant the institution of shifts.