LOSS INCURRED,

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1935, Page 7

LOSS INCURRED,

HAWERA MUNICIPAL BATHS. REPORT ON VERY BUSY SEASON. A loss of £BB 19s 5d on the season’s working was reported by the Hawera Municipal Baths custodian, Mr. A. Smith; at the meeting of the Hawera Borough Council on Monday night. The Toss;was largely due to .necessary repairs and renovations, and the baths, as now provisioned, were up-to-date in all respects. The work would be of a nature that-would not recur .for some time. . .. • In detailing the revenue, which amounted, to £129 15s 4d, Mr. Smith said 104 adult season'-, tickets realised £26, and 276 junior season -tickets realised £34 10s. s. Twelve monthly tickets'brought in£l 10s. A total of 1855 adults, at 3d each paid £25 13s 9d, and 7908 juniors at Id paid £32 19s. The total number admitted, irrespective of the number of times, season ticket holders visited the baths, was 10,155. On the expenditure side the custodian’s salary was £92 13s 4d, labour £l6 Is Id, materials and repairs £46 4s lid, plastering and repairs £3l 10s, and painting £lB 15s, which with smaller amounts made the total expenditure ,£2lB 14s 9d. /The baths were opened for swimming on November 7, said Mr. Smith in his report. The renovations during the winter proved most satisfactory, the pool having been made waterproof and the white surface considerably reducing the time required for cleaning and re-filling. The pool showed no further sign of leakage, but re-surfacing in white should be done, the present coat being well worn. It would be necessary for next season to pain the edge of the pool in white, and he suggested that it be extended to include the hand rail around the pool. Two new diving boards were installed and had stood up to the work, and appeared as though they would last another season. All other property was in much the same condition as when the baths opened, small repairs and replacements being carried out. The baths compared very favourably with others he had visited, but it seemed that? the time had arrived when a policy of reconstruction qf. facilities, such as dressing sheds, seating accommodation etc., would be more economical ■ than repairs.

March 30, brought to a close v. most successful swinftning season. The weather was all that could be desired, thus creating an abnormal demand for swimming facilities. During the Week from January 29 to February 5, 1501 paid for admission and in the following week 1235, exclusive of some 400 season tickets. Dressing rooms were taxed to their utmost and at times proved a difficulty. If there was no immediate prospect of their being increased the installation of a number of lockers would help during peak periods. Chlorination had been consistently and successfully carried out this season, and, u "'h Mr. P. O. Veale superintending, operations had gone past the experimental stage. Without Mr. Veale’s assistance the results achieved would not have been possible. The time table, while ' satisfactory, might be further improved. On account of extended school holidays it was necessary to make slight alterations. School swimming should be reorganised and it might help greatly if those interested had a conference. Any long distance swimming should be done before the end of February. The conduct of swimmers was of a very high standard, the children being amenable to discipline and generally well-behaved. 1 Commenting on the report, the Mayor, Mr. J. E. Campbell, said that, considering the returns two years ago were £45, the position this year was abnormal. The expenditure had been really capital, and the custodian had done excellent work. It was decided to grant Mr. Smith a bonus of £lO.

Appreciation of the services of Mr. Veale was expressed by Cr. W. J. Bright, and it was decided to forward 'to Mr. Veale a letter of thanks.- The number of people attending the baths, said Cr. Bright, was sufficient testimony of satisfaction in Mr. Veale’s scientific assurance of the cleanliness of the water.