GORE

Southland Times, Issue 23782, 1 April 1939, Page 19

GORE

BATHS COMMITTEE DISBANDS

OPPOSITION BY BOROUGH COUNCIL ALLEGED

“That, because- of the lack of support and, at times, actual opposition by the Borough Council to constructive proposals put forward by the Baths Committee, and as we feel we cannot conscientiously approach electricity consumers for their .refunds while there is no definite prospect of even a suitable site for the baths being finalized, we, the members of the Citizens’ Baths Committee, decide to disband as a body. We hereby appoint Mr A. C. Steel and Dr R. G. Stokes as trustees of whatever funds may be in hand.” This resolution was unanimously carried at a meeting of the Gore Citizens’ Baths Committee, which was called to review the progress towards obtaining baths for the town and to consider the advisability of carrying on the movement.

The meeting was attended by Messrs E. H. W. Rowntree (chairman), A. V. Latty, R. G. Watson, M. Green, P. R. Mallon, A. C. Steel, L. C. Barron (secretary), Miss R. I. V. Aitken and Dr R. G. Stokes.

Following a brief review of the position by the chairman, the question was discussed at length by the meeting. It was stated that when the idea of securing the electricity refunds from consumers in the town was first mooted there had been a considerable amount of enthusiasm among a large section of the residents, who were willing to give their support to the scheme. Support for the committee by the Borough Council at that time might have resulted in something concrete being accomplished, but the delay on the part of the council in reaching finality on the question of a site for the baths had had the effect of making many citizens diffident about the matter. Now there was a reluctance on the part of a large section of the community to sign over electricity refunds to the committee. The position had been further aggravated by the discovery that a number of business firms, which had previously promised to hand otter their refunds, were now on a different scale and that they would not receive refunds. The consumers who would benefit by the refund were mainly people not in the best circumstances, and it was felt that it was unfair to approach them to ask them to bear the cost of erecting baths. The cost of pumping water at the triangle site and the further delay in reaching finality were not encouraging to the committee, and it was considered that the members could not conscientiously approach citizens for support without a definite assurance that baths would be erected. The members of the committee had given much valuable time and. effort in an endeavour to secure baths for the town, and they had now reached a stage where it was felt that they were not prepared ‘ . spend further time in fruitless efforts.

The motion to disband the committee, •which was moved by Mr Green, was seconded by Mr Latty and carried. It was further decided that should the council at any time in the near future put forward concrete proposals for the erection of baths the members of the committee would be prepared to offer their whole-hearted support. A minute of appreciation to Mr Rowntree for the interest he had shown in the movement and to Messrs Mallon and Latty for the manner in which

they had brought the committee’s views before the Borough Council was recorded. Thanks were returned by Mr Rowntree, who stated he regretted that the project had not come to a more successful conclusion. The secretary was instructed to advise the Borough Council of the committee’s decision to disband.