BETTER BATHS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1924, Page 4

BETTER BATHS.

NEW PLYMOUTH'S NEED.

THE FACILITIES INADEQUATE.

TEPID BATHS WANTED. The need for improved facilities at the New Plymouth Municipal Baths, to cope with the growth of the town and the revival of interest in swimming, has been emphasised this summer, and last night representatives of the Taranaki Swimming Centro waited on members of the Borough Council baths subcommittee to urge the provision of improved facilities. The chief improvements advocated were the protection of the existing baths from sea erosion, the extension of seating accommodation at the baths, and the establishment of tepid batlis. The swimming centre delegates were Messrs W. H. Moyes (president),, G. Grey, P. J. Flannagan, A. R. Standish, and F. J. Shearer (secretary). Messrs J. Brown, R. A. Large and K. Day represented the Borough Council. Mr. Moyes pointed out that the present .bathing facilities were totally inadequate, the lighting at the baths being bad, the dressing accommodation meagre and seating accommodation sufficient only for less than 400 spectators. He understood that quite a considerable amount had been placed on the estimates for uee in improving the baths, and it was hardly fair to expect local sports clubs to continue providing money for institutions established solely for the public benefit. The high school alone had over 200 pupils practising for life-eaving certificates this year, and on account of the tremendous revival of swimming he considered the council had a duty to perform in placing in the way of the rising generation opportunity for instruction in swimming and life-saving. After discussion the delegates agreed that the only satisfactory to place their views clearly before the council was to prepare, in conjunction with a competent contractor, a full scheme of the desired improvements, with their approximate cost. The members of the baths sub-committee were entirely in accord with the views of the deputation, and the meeting decided to confer with Mr. Grayling without delay in order to formulate a definite scheme. It was explained that the council had some time ago set aside £lOOO for a destructor, and it was thought that this destructor might be built at the baths and used for heating the water. Apart from this amount, £2OO had been voted this year for protection against seaezoaion, and €lOO for a new pump at the baths. The council itself entertained the idea of building fresh-water baths in the gaol quarry, the water to be obtained from the Huatoki stream, but this scheme was entirely tentative. It was decided that in the definite scheme and estimates of cost, to be submitted to the council, the following objects were to be held in. view:—Protection of existing baths, provision of accommodation at baths for 1200 spectators, conversion of the present baths into tepid baths for eight months of the year or the establishment of new tepid baths, and the establishment of ladies’ baths and a paddling pool.