THE BATHS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 226, 22 April 1933, Page 4

THE BATHS

HIGH SCHOOL PROPOSAL

Discussion at Board Meeting

COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO MEET PRIMARY SCHOOL REPRESENTATIV ES

The proposal to construct baths at the Technical High School was discussed at length at the meeting of the Hoard last night. Eventually it was decided that a committee from the Board meet a committee from the Primary School Oommitee to go into various aspects. Matters to be discussed by the committees will be whether the Technical High School should construct the baths on the school property or seek power to cooperate with the Primary Schocl committee in improving the present Another alternative which will also baths for the use of the two schools, be gone into is the possibility of cooperation with the Swimming Club with a view to providing public tepid baths.

T]ie chairman, Mr. H. Trimble, reported on the interview he and the director had had with the Borough Council. Mr. Trimble made reterenco to the Swimming Club's suggestion for the erection of municipal tepid baths, which he thought would be an expensive undertaking. The schocl could not contribute towards the cost of baths erected outside the school property, and in any case to l)e of full use for the school the baths would of necessity have to be on the school's property.

Mr. A. Fergussou read the resolution passed by the School Committee at the last meeting, in which it was suggested that the Technical High School Board, the School Committee and the Swimming Club should combine in an effort to provide tepil baths. This resolution has already been reported in full in the Post. Mr. Fergusson said that it the High School pupils were withdrawn it would mean the loss of considerable financial support from the present baths, which in turn would mean the committee would have to close the baths to the public en the score of expense. The present baths could be extended and could be heated at a ccmpaititix ely small cost. The idea was to e.Meihi fhe baths' length to liw ;, , . ;;isi) increase the dept at !h, i!e;-i) end by 1 i'eet. He thought iii.ii if l!ii' baths were constructed it; On 1 High School grounds, and the >•;:;: ;• taKoil from the river, the water would 1/ ■ contaminated by overflow from the factory. He suggested that representatives of the Board meet representatives of the committee. Mr. F. Gawith said that the remarks of the previous speakers had little bearing on the matter. The Board had decided that baths were necessary. Must be Spent in Grounds In answer to Mr. Poison, the chairman said that the money must be spent on the Technical High School grounds. Mr. Poison said that there was a certain amount of danger in the school children bathing in public baths. He thought the school should have its own baths.

"As we have the money to build them," he said, "I think the baths should be built on our ground." Tepid baths in a climate such as Stratford's would, he thought, cost a great deal to run. In any case the Technical High School should have its own baths on its own grounds, and such baths should not be open to the public. In answer to Mr. Rutherfurd, the chairman said the money had been raised by the people of Stratford for the improvement of the school grounds, While it was true that certain capitation money was sometimes unexpended, had it not been for the money raised hy the people of the town, capitation grants would havo had to bo used on occasions that in the past had not been necessary. Mr. Rutherford was of opinion that the money should be expended in the construction of the baths. The townspeople were quite apathetic on the matter. The School Committee were quite entitled to close the primary school baths to the public. Cold Water Baths Saying that, cold water baths were usable for only a short period, while tepid baths could be used for eight months of the year, Mr. L. Galbraith favoured the appointment of a committee as advocated by Mr. Fergussou, lie thought they should not rush the scheme without full consideration. Permission could be obtained to spend the money at the Primary School Committee. Mr. Galalso situated on educational property. Mr. Francis agreed with the remarks of Mr. Galbraith, Cold water baths would not attract people more than holes in the river, he said. Mr. Fergusson: Could wo not spend tins money on class rooms. We need accommodation yet we are prepared to spend .'-JGOO on baths.

He moved that a committee from the Board meet a committee from the Friary School Committee. Mr. Galbraith seconded.

Mr. Rutherfurd:. How do you propose to obtain water if baths are erected.

Mr. Amess: From the river

Mr. Rutherfurd: With the Dairy Factory above us? Surely we do not want, the balhs half tilled with whey. Mr. I J < Ison: 1 have heard of some-

one having a bath of goats' milk. Mr. Fergusson combatted Mr. Polson's remarks that public swimming would make the water impure. Mr. Uutherfurd: We should get the w.u-'t irem the town supply. M j Objection to Conference .'"/. Amess said that while he would V.kb io see the baths at the school, In knew the proposal would bo costly. They had £GOO in sight. The ::ioney had been raised for improving the school grounds. They had to do something that would be of permanent value, otherwise they may lose t'ne money if they did not make use of it. He saw no objection to meeting the committee from the Primary School Committee. Mr. Gawfth: If wo cannot spend money up there, this committee meeting is only a waste of time. Mr. Amess: We could have power to pay extra rental towards the baths.

Mr. Gawith: Would we have any ! control? j Mr. Fergusson: Yes it would be I htty-nfty coutioi. Tiie Fnmary bchool i Uuimnutee would meet uie uoaru in i v., Vv.ay lJuooiUib. Mr. Poison said that if the baths t were 10 accommodate 800 children j tue- heating cost would be big. He saw no oojecLion to discussing uie | matter wnn tne Primary bcnooi Coni- | iiuLiee, Another Alternative Mr. Ruinenurd sam tnat there was i auotutr aucijuauve wlncn was lor 1 tne Borough to take over the pres- | ent Primary benooi batiis as munij cipal baths, anu permit the scnool committee and tne Board to construct ' joint school batns on the High bciiool j grounds. The Primary Scnool Com- | miitee should close the present hatha j to the public. Mr. McAllister: You forget that in the first place the public subscribed I the money for the Primary School j baths as public baths, i Mr. Fergussons motion was carj ried. j Mr. Gawith: Why hold a confer- ' ence when we cannot spend the i money up there? Mr. McAllister: The conference j could not do any harm. We might I discuss Mr. Rutherfurd's other alterj native. Messrs. Amess, Rutherfurd and j Poison were elected to represent the | Board on the conference. j Mr. Galbraith asked why the money could not be spent at the Primary j School baths as the latter were on i an education reserve. Mr. Trimble: One is a primary | school reserve and the other secondI ary school land. j Mr. Poison: We could get over I that by a clause in the Washing Up | Bill. (Laughter.) Mrs. McMillan: Ff we spend our j money up there, I consider the batiis I should be open to the public. j Mr. Trimble: That will be discussed at the conference. It was decided to hold the conference on Tuesday, May 2. Mr. Rutherfurd: This may be a plank in the Mayoral electioa.