TEPID BATHS WANTED

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 223, 19 April 1933, Page 4

TEPID BATHS WANTED

Proposal Carried a Step Further STRATFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S VIEWS Combined Effort Required The proposal to construct tepid baths in Stratford was carried a step further at last night's meeting of the Stratford School Committee. As a result recommendations on the subject are to be made to the Stratford Technical High School Board of Governora who already have in hand a scheme for the erection of coldwater baths in the school grounds. The points in favour of the establishment of tepid baths were placed before the meeting by the chairman, Mr. A. E. Moss, who emphasised the fact that if Stratford wanted more up-to-date baths—and he had no doubt that such was the case—a strong combined effort would have to be mado by the schools concerned, sports and. local bodies. Opinions of Committee Mr. Moss moved that the school committee representatiYe on the High School Board, Mr. Ferguson, be requested to put before the board the following statement as the opinion of the school committee: • " "That we recognise the right of the High School to spend its own money in providing baths for their own use, but consider that in the interests of Stratford residents and swimming en* thusiasts, something greater in outlook is desirable.

"That a combined effort on the parti of the High School and the Primary School authorities, the Swimming Club, and sports bodies and the assistance such as the Borough Council is able to give, would result in tepid baths being available for a portion of the year. "That owing to the number of cold water facilities for bathing, the public will not pay entrance, however cheap, to cold water baths, but we believe that the population is large enough to warrant moderate expenditure on tepid baths. "That the present Primary School baths are central enough and capable of standing all necessary improvements, but it is premature to outline these, and that the site being vested in the Education Board, control can: be held by the combined schools. "That the Primary School Committee cannot afford to maintain'the present baths as a public swimming bath if the secondary school pupils are withdrawn and they, will be closed except during school hours- The present revenue is only sufficient to provide repairs to seating, fencing and cleaning and the Primary School caretaker's duties includes attendance at the baths.

"That the very important art of swimming should be within the reach of all sections of the community, and the short period of the year that cold water bathing is possible at this altitude, calls strongly to all sections, including your board, who have public money to spend, to combine in a useful effort,"

The motion was seconded by Mr. A. Ferguson and carried. Possibilities of Present Baths

The school baths, said Mr. Moss, could be lengthened at a reasonable cost, by eight yards, provided the Borough Council would lend its assistance and grant permission to utilise a strip of the footpath running along the front of the baths. The raising of the walls would allow more water to be placed in the baths on occasions such as carnivals, but he considered satisfaction would be given if for all general purposes the depth of the water remained the same as at present. Any increase in the width was not desirable, in view of the fact that it would greatly increase the volume of water to be warmed. No trouble would be experienced in improving dressing and seating accommodation. The point he wished to emphasise, however was that if the support of the High School was not continued the baths would become school baths only. He stated that cold water baths could not be conducted for less than £3O or £4O yearly, and he estimated that, another £SO would have to bo placed on those figures to arrive at the cost for the upkeep of tepid baths.