PUBLIC BATHS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15956, 18 October 1922, Page 6

PUBLIC BATHS.

BOROUGH ENGINEER AND BATH . PLANS. SEQUEL TO ILL-CONSIDERED REMARKS. Tho Borough Council last evening received'#. deputation irom the committee elected to forward the proposals for public tepid baths. The deputation was led by Mr. J. S. Wauchop, and a fairly lengthy discussion took place ftpon the attitude taken by tho borough engineer, who had agreed to prepare plans and specifications for the baths, and had recently intimated that he would go no further with them, owing to remarks having been passed at a public meeting of a nature that he considered affected his self-respect. Mr. J. S. Wauchop, chairman of the deputation, said it would be remembered that some time ago, the Mayor, in company with the bath committee and the borough engineer, who hud kindly offered his services, had visited three suggested sites for the bath. Mr. McDonald had, by means of ground plans he had .drawn up, proved conclusively that the site in Bright street was not suitable. The committee had finally settled upon the' Read's quay site, and it had been asked for. Ihe Harbor Board had asked for plans and specifications for submission to the Marine Department, and being approached, Mr. McDonald had agreed to draw these up. There was probably no man better fitted by local experience to undertake the work. The engineer had explained that delay might ensue, owing to the business involved by the Borough Council's contract. About a fortnight before the harbor poll, Mr. McDonald had told the speaker that the plans should be ready within a few weeks. The committee was in the position of having been appointed by a representative section of tho public, who expected it to secure the fulfilment of the proposals. Unfortunately, the committee was now in a dilemna, because, though anxious to' do something, they could not get the plans. Mr. McDonald had signified that he could go no further with the plans, as he considered that ho had been insulted by the committee or someone else. At the time he was approached, the committee had an offer from a competent draughtsman to completo the plans if # Mr. McDonald would supply the necessary data. Mr. McDonald, however, was apparently unprepared to supply that data. The bath was not a proprietary concern, and any assistance that the Borough* Council or its officers could give, they claimed should be given. They, wanted that evening to ask the Council whether, in some manner, the bath committee could be supplied with the data. Regarding the grounds of Mr. McDonald's displeasure, Mr. Wauchop assured the Council that neither he nor the committee of which ho was chairman, had said or done anything which might have been responsible for it. He remembered having read a report of remarks made at a meeting of a club with which he had no connection whatever, but that had nothing to do with his committee. Mr. Wauchop asked further, whether the Council could supply information regarding heat generated at the powerhouse which might be used in connection with the tepid baths, as it might weigh with them in the choice of the site for the bath.

The Mayor "said that ho would back up the remarks of Mr. Wauchop. It had been unanimously decided by a joint committee that the Read's Quay site would be -the best available for the bath. The contractor for the bridge had got on to his job rather more quickly than had 'been expected when" Mr. McDonald had promised to compile the plans. At a recent meeting. between the bath committee and the engineer in the Mayor's office, things had been "a bit mixed," and Mr. McDonald had intimated that he would go no further with the plans. That was the position. The Council had no hand in the agreement between the bath committee and the engineer.

"Do I understand that the committee really want thoso plans?" asked Cr. Coleman.

"We can't do without them," replied Mr. Wauchop. "The Council had no jurisdiction in this matter, and therefore I have nothing to say," Mr. McDonald commented. "I am being reported' to the Council," he added.

Mr. Wauchop denied this. Mr. McDonald was quite within his rights to take up the attitude he had, and there was no questi6n of reporting Mr. McDonald. The bath committee merely, liow being in the position stated, asked the Council to take up the matter, and ask the engineer's office to draw up the plana for the bath. Tho Mayor said that it was regrettable that irresponsible people should comment on the work of a man who was giving his services free, lie merely mentioned this in case it was tho basis of Mr. McDonald's displeasure. Mr. Forster said that he had presided over the meeting at which the irresponsible remarks were made. Ho had defended Mr. McDonald, and had made it clear that the engineer was not able to devote much time to the preparation of the plans. He assured the Council that 'the member who had made the remarks was not connected in any way with the bath committee. Mr. Wauchop also made it clear that the pe/son mentioned was purely irresponsible, and had not even taken an active interest in the project. Mr. Davy suggested that the difficulty could be got over by a deputation waiting"-upon the "irresponsible," and urging him to publicly withdraw the %emarks which had had such * unfortunate consequences. Mr. McDonald asked why, if the bath committee disassociated themselves from the remarks concerned, they had not come to him and explained their position. Instead, they had gone to the Mayor, and now to the Council. He only came in afterwards, to be" ordered to do the work.

Mr. Wauchop pointed out that Mr. Forster had actually spoken to Mr. McDonald and explained the position within a few days. Mr. McDonald replied that Mr. Fors ter had approached him on another matter entirely. Mr. Wauchop explained to the Council that the committee had waited on the Mayor as a peace-maker. The Mayor said that he hoped that if the author of tho remarks would withdraw the'm, tho engineer would be willing to reconsider the matter. Mr. Wauchop: But, your Worship, mu have no control over the actions or speech of Charles Brown or Jack Smith. If he refuses to withdraw the remarks, how do we stand? Mr. McDonald : Let him put forward a. public apology, since the remark* were made in public, and then let the bath .committee see me. I' don't see that the Council comes into it at all, since the matter is simply between the committee and myself. The Mavor said that he had spoken with tho "author of tho remarks, and he felt sure that the gentleman men tioned would be glad to do what he could to right matters. Mr. Forster: He's very sorry indeed. Mr. Wauchop reiterated that Mr. McDonald %»as quite at liberty to take up this attitude in order to protect his own self-respect. The committee was not complaining of this attitude, and hoped that they could get on assurance that Mr. McDonald would carry on with the plans. v * Cr. Coleman thought that no body of men could hafe put a case more clearly. They had entirely disassociated themselves with the statements made, which were really against the Council, rather than against the engineer. He hoped that a settlement could be reached.

Cr. Todd endorsed these remarks, and ;ifter thanking the Council and Mr. McDonald, the deputation departed.