ST. CLAIR BATHS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24483, 17 December 1940, Page 8

ST. CLAIR BATHS

FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS “ £3OOO COULD BE PROFITABLY EXPENDED ” “The baths have been absolutely forgotten for some time, and when I visited them since the last meeting I was astonished at the.. state of neglect,” said the Mayor (Mr A. H Allen) at the meeting of the City Council last night, when the. future care of the St. Glair Baths was being, discussed. “ The'-Improvements mentioned to-night are only a fraction of what could well be spent on-them. In fact, I would estimate that up to £3OOO could profitably be expended to bring them into proper condition. “It was stated at the last meeting that the baths were run at a loss.” the Mayor- added, “ but so are the Municipal Baths and the Botanic Gardens. Yet they are run for the benefit of the community, and I think if the S't. Clair Baths were put in proper order they would be a real asset to the city and a means of revenue for our tramways.” The question of the care of the baths was raised by .Cr Hendefson when he reported that they would in future be under the supervision of the city engineer. , Cr Tavener said " that there would be general gratification that the baths would in future be under the control of the engineer. He was sure that the publicity given to the baths since the question was raised had roused public interest in them and had shown what good bathing facilities they provided. He had been informed that evening that the sand had been cleared out and that there was a good depth of water. All that was now necessary was the repairing of the buildings. The St. Clair' rock pool was-peculiar to New Zealand, and, he believed, to Australia.': and, open as they were to the full roll of the Pacific Ocean, they offered unusual bathing facilities. They - had certainly suffered a good deal of negtecf dn the pa&t. A suggestion that a report should be obtained on ways to keep’the baths clear of rocks and sand was made by Cr Smith, who said that they filled up very auickly. Replying, Cr Henderson said that there would be no use in carrying out schemes to prevent the baths, filling up until a proper investigation of the various methods had been made. He assured councillors that everything possible would be done to keep the bath? in good order.