PUBLIC BATHS AND WASH HOUSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 928, 11 September 1869, Page 9

PUBLIC BATHS AND WASH HOUSES.

At a recent meeting of the Glaßgow Police Board, the following resolution on this subject was introduced by Mr Wm. Wilson :—": — " That it be an instruction from this Board to the Sanitary Committee that they shall forthwith provide at four of the most suitable parts of the oity public baths and wash-houses for the accommodation of the inhabitants, all in terms of the Glasgow Police Act, 1866." In introducing the motion, Mr Wilson, according to the Herald, said : The large death-rate in the city is a matter of great concern to us all, and especially tw the Sanitary Committee ; and whether we blame tho habits of the peoplo, the overcrowding, the dram-shop, or the general low state of morality that in too many respects exists among us, or each and all of these causes, we cannot blame the want of an abundance of pure and wholesome water. I havo been at some trouble to enquire as to bath and wash-houses in some of the principal towns in the South, and find the statements generally of the most encouraging nature. In Liverpool, Sunderland, and Birmingham, the baths and wash-houses are Corporation property, and are all but self-sustaining. I hold in my hand the rules of the Birmingham and Sunderland establishments, and an elaborate report, with plans, drawings, and cost of construction, &0. , from Liverpool, furnished to me at my request by Mr Ellison, our excellent superintendent of the cleansing department. Not to trouble you with many particulars, I may state, in one word, their success has been undoubted, and the benefits to tho working classes incalculable. In the largo swimming baths in Birmingham and Sunderland tho water is put on fresh every Monday morning, and partially ronowed daily, and the privato cold bath is charged a penny, and tho swimming bath, with use of a clean towol and dressingroom, or box, twoponco ; of course, those who wish a bath all to thomselvoa must pay a proportionately increased rato to Bccuro incroosod accommodation. I may say, howovor, in passing, that I saw tho swimming bath xn Sundorl&nd on Saturday, and tho wator was pure and nice, as tho swimming department is of great capneity andoxtont. They aro open fonnon,womon, and childron from six in tho morning till nine at night, and on Sundays from six till nino in the morning only. Thoso bathing ost;iblishmontsha»o in connection with thorn ono of tho greatest boons to a poor household— a washing and laundry doparcmont. It is open for womon from oi»;ht in tho morning till oigbt at night, Sundays oxcoptod. For the first hour a ponny is ctwrgod, and for ovory halfhour after a ponny also. Each woman washing has a loparato placo all to hersolf, with as much clean wator (hot and cold) a* nho requires, and steam for boilinu tho linon, and a separate hotiAO o dry tho clothes, with tho convonionoo of ironing And mangling. I havo vUltod thoso " troth hoiucts," and was much struck with tho ordor and regularity that proTftUed, X •**

scores of women 'from the poor parti 'of ihe town — I had no doubt—^with their bundles and baskets of clothes for the wash, beginning the cleansing operation a minute or- two after arrival, and in two hours taking them home washed and dried at a cost Of 3d. I do not think I need dwell on a boon like this to a poor man's household. Well, how does it pay ? possibly may be asked. As a rule, the loss to the ratepayers is small; and in the case of Manchester the baths and washhouses are the property of a company, and I believe are not only self-sup-porting but pay a dividend on the capital invested. In Liverpool they have not paid, though attended by vast multitudes ; but I do not hesitate to say, after a careful examination of their plans and buildings, that they are on far too costly and grand a Bcale. Baths have been tried here in Glasgow, but they have not paid or become popular. Various reasons can be given for this state of matters, but I refrain. I think it quite possible, however, that after a few years' training to cleanlier habits customers may so increase as to enable us to hand the baths erected over to private enterprise. Mr Ure seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to.