PUBLIC SWIMMING BATHS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14784, 17 March 1910, Page 5

PUBLIC SWIMMING BATHS.

Sir.,—-Two itoms. in your issue of tTita morning call ior more than passing; noticc. The first is a statement made by Mr Campbell, Mayor of North-Kast Valley, in a circular inset setting forth the pros and cons of the amalgamation' scheme. Ho says: Swimming baths will bo shortly constructed, and will add to tic burden of the Uroatir Dunedin ratepayer." This is » misconccption, as properly-equipped tepid water swimming baths, easy of access, will bo so well supported thai they cannot fail to pay. -Mr Campbell makes this statement without thinking surely, because ho must have noticed that the Christcliurcii tepid-water bath, after contributing to the council's revenue for water supply and electric light, yielded a clear profit- of £100 for the first year. If the Valley residents wait for tfteir council to provide tlwm with baths they will wait till Doomsday, and they would l be well advised to join with the N'ovtii Dunedin residents in petitioning the City Council to undertake the construction of public batlis in the north-end at onoe, cither on the baths reserve or other convenient sito. Valley residents are practically prohibited from using the St. Clair baths owing to the time it takes to go to and from St. Clair, to say nothing of the cost. The establishment of swimming baths would in many ways .work for good in a residential suburb liko North Dunedin, especially since the closing of the hotels, as it would bo an excellent place for young fellows to put in a.n. hour profitably during an evening. A bath near the Museum would tap a big population, be handy for the several sohools near-by, t.he University students, and the tram service. Tho bath reserve in Lcitli street produces about £130 per annum, and tho bath site in Moray place about £100 per annum, so that the interest oil a loan is more than provide for by tho wis© founders of this city. Yet such is the contempt of our progressive city councillors for clean wate'r that for over 30 years they have squandered the re von lies from tho baths reserve, and have not built a bath yet, and only this year agreed to account for tho money from this source.

The second item to which I would call tho attention of your readers is the report of the Sydenham Scliool life-saving class's exhibition in the Cam, at Kaiapoi. The Now Zealand Amateur Swimming Association is endeavouring, with the assistance and support of tho Government, to have every child taught tho art of swimming and life-saving; but baths are necessary. lii Christohurch, Wanganui, Wellington, and all the other towns in the Dominion baths arc available, and great work among the school children i 6 being done. Dunedin is the sole and sorrowful exception. How can you oxpect. to have healthy, well-grown, capable citizens if you neglect to provide the means for them to become so, and what is the use of training a citizen army who could not get across a creek without a bridge?—l am, etc., J. C. K. Sibbald. Member N.Z.A.S.A. Duneflin, March 15.