BATHS FOR CENTRAL SCHOOL

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1934, Page 7

BATHS FOR CENTRAL SCHOOL

GRANT FROM ART UNION WANTED. A request for assistance from an art union for the erection of swimming baths at the Central school, New Plymouth, was made to Mr. G. W. Forbes by a deputation yesterday. Mr. Forbes said baths were part of the modern equipment of a school and he would be pleased to take the matter up with the Minister concerned. Of course relief and charitable organisations had the first claim. Mr. F. H. Coleman, chairman of the school committee, was the spokesman. An application had been made for participation in an art union in 1932, he said, but since then the water supply could be arranged on more suitable terms. The reason why the baths were needed so much was that the municipal baths could not cope with the number of children, and the high schools’ baths had also to be used. The success of the annual learn-to-swim week would be much increased if the school had its own pool. The cost would be about £5OO, plus walls and sheds. About half the cost would be absorbed in labour. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., said baths were urgently needed because of the school’s distance from the municipal baths. This meant that for half an hour’s instruction two to two and a-half hours’ school time was lost.