MUNICIPAL SWIMMING BATHS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13854, 18 March 1907, Page 6

MUNICIPAL SWIMMING BATHS.

Sir,—lb may bo assumed that there is practically complete agreement in the community as to tho need of swimming baths, and that they will bo established by tho city authorities in the very near future. I should be sorry to raise premature or unnecessary controversy, but it seems evident that tho questions of site and general policy ought to bo settled at once. I trust that that thoso gentlemen who have so keenly interested themselves in this matter wilt understand that no lu'ndranco to their plans is intended, but that I hopo they will be helped by a froo discussion anil criticism of tho proposals which wero mado at the meeting held on, Friday last. The ■proposed site in Moray place lias many disadvantages; it is too small, it will ■ bo'overshadowed by high buildings before long, and it is too valuable—tho rental it may easily be made to yield would form a valuable endowment for baths erected elsewhere. Tho plea, that it is central is illusory. People do not live in tho centre of the city. That is more and , more boing given up to business, and the population is Booking the suburbs for residential purposes. What aro tho things needed for a good swimming bath? First of all, space, Bun, and air. Mop than half tho advantages of such a bath aro lost if it lias to be taken in a building to which sun and air aro not freely admitted. Tho water should bo open to both. Preferably, I think this should bo done by having no roof to tho building. A canvas screen, as at Hanmcr, might lw available for wet weather: Besides keeping tho air and tho water pure and sweet, tho open bath lias tho additional advantage of economy. Tho walls need not be so heavy as if they had to sustain a roof, and the cost of the roof would be saved. _ But the main argument 'is tho hygienic- one. There* ought to bo ample space about tho bath. At least two baths are needed—ono for each sex. Thero should bo attached to each a running track and a few simple gymnastic requisites, such as a cross-bar, ladder, etc Thoso wdio havo seen the great baths of the Roman Emoire will remember how that people, who thoroughly understood tho business of bathm/r, united it with all. tho other forms of athletic exercise known in their time. If pcssiblo the baths should be so placed that they can bo used by those who play football, cricket, etc., after their games. To suppose that ono bath will suffice for Dunodin is absurd. Now that swimming is a school subject, tho rising generation will grow up a race of swimmers, and they will have to bo catered for, probably both by public and by private enterprise. In the meantime, it is essential to begin with ono good bath, and. if that can bo made to pay (and everything points tea that conclusion), others will follow, so that every district will have its own bath. I would suggest that the following are possible sites:—Tho Oval; the Market Reserve; tho old Caledonian Ground; the playing grounds opposite ' the Rcfanical Gardens; the reclaimed ground beyond tho railway; the harbour foreshore near Musselburgh, where- tho water is nuito pure; the Jubilcd Park.: tho sandhills facing tho sea, from St. Kilda to St. Clair. No doubt, others may lie, .iuggested, but these can bo obtained free of ccsf. Swimmers are entitled to tho same consideration as cricketers or footballers, and the amount of spaco needed on the most liberal scale will not interfere with tho other uses of these reserves. If wo suppose that the Oval is chosen for tho first cxperiment, an excellent sito can bo found near the Troopers' -Memorial. Personally, I should like to see named tho "Mullany Bath," and on its walls a wmplo statement of the gallant deed whereby young Mullany lost his life, so that every boy or girl who uses tho bath might havo before him that story of pluck and solf-saorificc. Tho Oval is easy of access, and a cheap bath and tram ticket might bo issued to school children on suitable days so that they could' get to the birth easily and cheaply from aH parts of the city. If such a sup- , gestion is adopted the city authorities would havo an assured income from tho Moray place and other endowments of at least £250.a yea/. If £6000 were spent on buildings (it would probably need l a much smaller sum than this to begin with), at 5 per- cent, the money would cost £300 a year, and it does not seem tco optimistio to assume that tho income from the baths would be sufficient to inoet tho interest, provide a sinking fund, and a reserve for new baths. I trust, Sir, that won will soo your way to open your columns for the discussion of this very important subject.—l am, etc., D. Coujunora. Dunedin, March 16.