BATHING FACILITIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21469, 18 April 1933, Page 11

BATHING FACILITIES

SOME AUCKLAND NEEDS BETTER DRESSING SHEDS ATTENDANTS AND LOCKERS Now that the bathing season is practically over it may safely bo said that Auckland's beaches have never been more popular or moro used by young and old in the summer just past. Perhaps tho sunshine cult is responsible, ft may be also that in those times the low cost of the pastime gives sea bathing an added attraction. There are, indeed, many signs that in the next few years more and more people will flock to tho beaches. It may even bo safo to predict that before long the average number of bathers at any resort will have doubled. Such a tendency ought to be encouraged in every possible way, because the total benefit to tho health of tho community must bo incalculable. When this is considered, it is at least doubtful whether the local todies of Auckland aro doing quite as much to encourage the pastime as they might. The City Council has provided three excellent public swimming baths, has developed the incomparable island iesort of Motuibi, and has erected bathing sheds and made other improvements at Point Chevalier, Mission Bay, Tftirangi and Blockhouse Bay. '1 ho Devonport Botough Council has provided dressing sheds of a good type at its beaches. Tho Takapuna Borough Council has done something in tho same direction, and tho efforts of both bodies have been supplemented to soino extent by private enterprise. However, tho fact remains that facilities at most Auckland beaches aro still very primitive. The public dressing sheds as a rule aro semi-open wooden structures containing a few tenches and garment hooks, with perhaps a fresh-water shower. There is no attendant, no means of leaving clothes and money in security, and none of the privacy given by properly-de-signed cubicles. Such refinements as wooden gratings upon tho concreto lloors are all but unknown. Jt is quite truo that the use of the present public sheds is free, but there must be hundreds, even thousands, of regular bathers who would be prepared to pay a small sum for accommodation such as is to bo had at the Tepid Baths in Auckland or at Bondi, Coogee or any English coastal resort. There the public authorities have erected spacious and well-designed buildings, where for a few pence the bather may have the use of a cubicle, a locker for his clothing and a showerbath. For a small extra charge he may hire a towel or a bathing suit. Sometimes sun-bathing enclosures aro provided as well. Some Auckland beaches have undoubtedly reached tho stage at which these services are really needed. On the analogy of what has been done in the past and is now being done for other outdoor sports, it is plainly the duty of the local bodies to provide tetter facilities for bathing. Even if some working loss occurred at tho start, there is little doubt that expenses would be met, perhaps more than met, in the course of a few years. The public would make greater use of the accommodation, larger numbers of people would be encouraged to bathe and a real service would be rendered to the cause of health.