CITY SWIMMING BATHS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22032, 12 February 1935, Page 11

CITY SWIMMING BATHS

INCREASED PATRONAGE BENEFIT TO REVENUE MISSION BAY FACILITIES One result of the phenomenally hot weather this summer has been a very large increase in the number of people who have used the city baths. Vast crowds have sought refuge from the llieat at the numerous beaches, both during week-ends and at nights when the tides have been favourable, but this has not lessened the popularity of the baths, even -when good swimming has been available at near by beaches. Many people, it appears, prefer the facilities provided at well-appointed baths.

The latest available return showing the attendances at the baths controlled iby the Auckland City Council deals with the period of seven weeks ended January 29. In that period 56,790 people used the baths, as against 39,883 ifor the same period the previous summer. The Parnell Baths proved the most popular, being patronised by 20,714 swim macs, of whom 7703 were children. The attendance a year ago was 13,272, including 5122 children. For the seven weeks this season the Shelly Beach Baths had 18,804 patrons, 5927 of these being children, while during the same period last season the number was 11,570, including 3866 children. Children at Tepid Baths While the attendance at the Tepid Baths in Hobson Street was not as great as at the two open-air pools, the ]>ercentage of juvenile swimmers was much higher. Of the 15,543 persons who tised the baths, 9479 were children This compares favourably with the patrontage last season, when there were 13,327 swimmers, including 8318 children. The slipper baths at Hobson Street had 1729 adult patrons, as against 1714 for the previous year. The increased popularity is reflected in the revenue collected by the City Council, an increase of over £2OO over last season being shown. The total receipts for the three baths were £725, as against £522 for last season. The highest returns were those from the Hobson Street baths, where a total of £383 was taken compared with £314 for the previous season. The respective figures at Parnell were £177 and £ll2, and at Shelly Beach, £165 and £96. Mission Bay Revenue The City Council has also reason to be gratified at the return from the new bathing sheds at Mission Bay. They were opened on December 16 and have already shown a satisfactory result on the capital outlay. Up to the middle of December bathers at Mission Bay, now the most popular beach on the. city side of the harbour, were provided with two primitive iron shelters for which no charge was made. Early in the beginning of the swimming season the council authorised the erection of a modern brick building with changing rooms for both sexes, lockers and showers, and since this building tfas opened it has been regularly patronised. A small charge has been made for the use of the facilities and the takings from the opening day to yesterday totalled over £l3O, an average of almost £2 10s a day. The cost of the building was approximately £750, and even when allowance is made for the wages of the attendant and other expenses the return is highly satisfactory.