SWIMMERS INDIGNANT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 584, 23 December 1915, Page 11

SWIMMERS INDIGNANT.

CENTRE AND CITY

COUNCIL.

BATHS REFUSED FOR PATRIOTIC CARNIVALS.

THE POSITION EXPLAINED.

At the last meeting of the ! Canterbury Centre of the New f Zealand Amateur Swimming AsI sociation complaint was made that the City Council had refused to grant the centre the free use of the tepid baths for the purpose of holding a carnival or carnivals in aid of the Patriotic Fund. As a result, it was stated, 1 the combined carnivals would have to be held in suburban baths, and* th'e Patriotic Fund would lose the sum that the carnivals at the tepid baths might raise. A Stm representative saw the chairman of the centre (Mr W. E. D. Bishop) this morning, and asked for an explanation of the position. "At the annual meeting of the centre," said Mr Bishop, "the Christchurch clubs unanimously decided, in order to help the patriotic funds, that they would abandon their individual swimming carnivals this summer so that-'three, or four large meetings under/the control of the centre could be held, and the profits handed over to the patriotic funds. It has also been since arranged, with the hearty support of the active swimmers, that instead of competing for the usual >trophies, certificates only will be issued to successful ; competitors, thus enabling, , as !., : we; thought, the centre to hand over the whole of the receipts, with the exceptibn", perhaps, of the cost of advertising; but even, this might be arranged; "It was therefore a great disappointment to* us to learn that the City Council would not help us in the -matter,, but insisted on making its usual Charge for the use, of the Tepid Baths. The Mayor is constantly urging on the public the necessity of subscribing to the patriotic funds, and now when an offer of assistance comes along it receives no support from his council/. The result of our efforts may be small, "but surely every little helps, and if our lads are willing to forgo their trophies, and their clubs the profits of their individual carnivals, in order to help the funds, I think their action is worthy of better treatment and more encouragement from bureity fathers." : THE CENTRE'S APPLICATION. The application of the Swimming Centre for the use of the baths was made on November 4, and was as'! follows:—

"At the annual general meeting of my centre the following resolution was carried:—'That all club carnivals during the season be abandoned, and that the centre control three or four carnivals, same to be held* at the Tepid Baths, the profits to be handed to the Patriotic Fund. Any club wishing, however, to hold a carnival of its own should have the right to do so/ "In this connection I must explain that it has been the rule in past seasons for each club to hold a carnival of its own, but, owing to so many swimmers being on active service, we resolved that it would be better for the centre to take control of the carnivals during the season. I am directed to write you to say that if we hold our carnivals at the Tepid Baths, and hand the profits over to the Patriotic Fund, would your council be agreeable to allow us the use of the baths free of charge on the nights we hold our carnivals? THE" COUNCIL'S REPLY.

To this application the Town Clerk replied as follows: — "I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th inst., forwarding copy of resolution passed at the annual general meeting of your centre in reference to club carnivals during the season, and asking that the use of the baths may be given free of charge on the occasion of the carnivals.

"In reply, I am directed by the chairman of the Baths Committee to inform you that he very much regrets the committee cannot comply with your request. As you are aware, the baths are supposed to be self-supporting, and it places them in an unfair financial position ;to grant their free use. Any effort to raise money for the Patriotic Fund has the full sympathy of the City Council, and it is with regret that your request must be refused. "I may- add that, owing to the closing-down of the steam generating units at the destructor, the cost of providing'hot water for the bath lias increased by about £SOO per annum."

When the matter was mentioned to Gr Williams, the chairman of the Baths Committee, he stated that the council could not in fairness to the ratepayers let the baths without charge. "The Municipal Baths," he said, "are practically one of the city's trading concerns, and the citizens are at a great expense in running them. There must of necessity be a good staff employed, and the expense in connection with the bath generally is very heavy. Prior to the inauguration of the Lake Coleridge current, the baths were heated by steam generated at the electrical plant at the destructor. Since then, however, the steam has to be generated by the destructor purely and simply with the refuse of the city. On Sundays and holidays when there is no collection of refuse, and no men employed at the destructor, coal has to be used, and a staff of men kept on and paid at overtime rates to heat water. These items involve an extra expenditure of upwards of £SOO per annum.

"On the face- of that it seems an