BATHS AT CAMPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23838, 13 December 1940, Page 4

BATHS AT CAMPS

NEED EMPHASISED INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES CRITICISM OF DELAY Tlio pressing need for a swimming hath at the Papakura military camp, which was stressed at a meeting of the Auckland .Metropolitan Patriotic Committee earlier this week, was further emphasised by Dr. T. H. Pet tit. president of the Auckland centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, yesterday. Dr. Pet tit strongly criticised the delay in providing the hath, and added that the matter ap|X'ared to have heen shelved. The Government had heen approached on the outbreak of war, and negotiations had be»n going on ever since, added Dr. Pettit. Although the Hon. 11. Semple had promised 15 months ago that the bath would be there by last Christmas, it was still not there. The new water supply at Papakura would he available in a month, and there was no reason why the bath should not he ready then. Dr. Pettit said every soldier's life might depend on his ability to swim, and for this reason an instructional pool was essential. In addition, there could be no more useful and pleasant recreation than swimming. Even a bath costing £6OO would be worthwhile, as the Government might well pay that sum in one widow's pension. Plans submitted to the Government in September, 1939, for a bath 100 ft. long and 4ft. deep, costing about £'.">oo. and estimates were obtained for a filter plant. The Government had asked for estimates of a bath 6ft. deep, but since then the matter appeared to have been shelved, added Dr. Pettit. There was no need for a bath as deep as this for instructional purposes. If it was a question of economy, a bath costing only £SO could be installed, which would be better than nothing. Dealing with the infection aspect, Dr. Pettit stated that the Teachers' Training College bath and over 25 baths at schools around Apckland were found to be entirely safe with the hand chlorination system. At the Cornwall Park school 700 children had daily lessons in a bath costing £3O. A bath 75ft. long and 3ft. deep had been installed at the Owarmka school for about £2OO.