SWIMMING BATHS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13835, 23 February 1907, Page 9

SWIMMING BATHS.

It is a matter for sntisfaction that the School Committees' Association devoted n portion of its quarterly meeting on Thursday evening to « discussion on the subject of the need of swimming lwtlis iii Duncdin, nnd 'that warm sympathy was expressed witii tho movement for securing the establishment of public baths, which were rightly described as a pressing requirement) of civilisation and education. The only fault tlmt can bo found with the resolution that was adopted by tho Association iy that it contemplates the accomplishment of what must, wo think, be held to lie the unattainable. It would unquestionably bo an excellent thing if every primary school in Dnnedin and suburbs included swimming baths within its equipment, lint so far from the day being pot fur, distnnt when all the schools will ho so provided, it seems to.its to be fairly certain that tlio hope which the Association expresses in this' direction will never bo realised. Indeed, it may: | )p fairly suggested that any efforts to secure the erection of baths at each and all of the primary schools in and around Dunedin, however admirable tho scheme would bo if it were practicable, would involvo an linfortunato division of energy. A much more feasible proposal t would be one that would aim at the establishment of three or more swimming baths in convenient centres to meet tlio needs of the various schools) under conditions that might be mutually arranged. It is gratifying to Imow that the plans which have been prepared for the Training College that is to bo erected on the grounds of the Union Street' School provide for the construction of baths as a portion of the equipment of the institution, and it would, ,we should imagine, be a simple matter to arrange that the pupils of the schools in the northern end of the city, and those perhaps of other schools conveniently situated, might there receive necessary instruction in swimming. If by the united efforts of the residents in tlio locality concerned the orectioii of baths could be secured in connection with ono of the schools on the Flat, tlio requirements of various schools might, in a similar way, be adequately met,'and wo should suppose it to bei not beyond the range of probability that some arrangement might be'arrived at between tho committees interested whereby tho baths which, as we are pleased to bear, are projected in connection wit'i tho High Street School may be niado available for swimming classes for the pupils of other schools. At anyrate, it is in the adoption of some such plan as this, which follows the lino of least resistance, that the hope of securing instruction in swimming at any period in the near future for the boys and girls of the primary schools of Dunedin and suburbs most certainly lies. The cost of the construction of baths and the cost of the water with which the baths, when erected, must be filled and refilled render it impossible that all the schools can be separately supplied withbaths. While it is 1 mainly concerned about tho provision of tho needs of tlio primary schools, tho School Committees' Association 1 has expressed its active endorsement of the movement in fayour of the establishment of public swimming baths .in Dunedin. It is hardly likely that any opposition will bo shown anywhero to this movement in principle. The only possible reason tho City Council can have for delay in undertaking the erection of the baths, for wliicli it lias long possessed tlio site, is one connected with finance. But it may bo doubted whether tho financial difficulty is, after all, of very great moment, anil wo should be disposed to think that tho benefit to be derived hy the community from the existence of baths wotikl far outweigh any financial considerations, that may bo advanced as a reason for delay in the prosecution of the work.