THE MUNICIPAL BATHS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 145084, 8 September 1916, Page 6

THE MUNICIPAL BATHS.

TO THE BDIIOB. r Sir,—l reluctantly take the trouble to reply to anyone who writes under an assumed naiuc. “.Regular Swimmer’s” letter, however, which appeared in your issue of yesterday, would, in the absence of some explanation, give cortaiu impressions which I hasten to dispel. There seems to bo some confusion of ideas in that writer’s mind. It is not made clear Whether an objection to mixed bathing is entered oh behalf of the women or of the men, or of both. To make tho position quite clear let us point out that previous to this year tho morning hours for bathers at the Municipal Baths wore, for women 5.30 a.m. to 6.45 a.m., and for men 7 to 8 a.m. in tho programme for this year tho only alteration, so far as concerns us, is that on Tuesdays and Fridays mixed bathing is permitted from 5.30 a.m . ' to B'a.m. Your correspondent, “Regular Swimmer,” says that this is a real hardship for lady swimmers, who are forced by thoir employment to take thoir swim from 5.30 to 6.30 a.m. This seems to be the,first point made. Now, if “Regular Swimmer” paused to examine the matter, he would find that his imaginary grievance is based on tho assumption that the ladies who go to the baths at 5.30 a.m. to 6.30 a.m. are going to bo interrupted by men, who will get out of bod an hour and a halt earlier on Tuesdays and Fridays, simply to disturb the girls by bathing with them. I think “Regular Swimmer” need have no anxious thoughts for the privacy of the ladies’ swim between the hours of 5.30 and 6.30 a.m. Most mon are too fond of their beds to venture out at such aa early hour for such a trivial purpose. His second grievance seems to bo that the ladies will, on tho days named, make so bold as to go for a swim from 6.45 to S a.m., and thereby drive aty;ay those' men who would otherwise be “forced” to indulge iu mixed bathing. Surely “Regular Swimmer” was not serious whou he wants people to believe that thare are men in Now Plymouth who would miss their regular swim simply because, appropriately clad women happened to ho swimming in the same baths at the same time'. Now, sir, it will be soea that tho alteration in the programme will not mako any practical difference to' anyone. ' Those ladies whose modesty prevents them from im dulgiiig in mixed batluhg will continue to bathe from 5.30 to 6.30. It seen hot be feared that the men, although they have tho 1 right, will disturb them at that early hour. Moreover, the ladies who go regularly- to the baths will not change their hours for two mornings a weok. Therefore “Regular Swimmer’s” anxiety is confined to the men','and.’we need not concern ourselves "over'man who would object to Women swimming in the same baths with them. In conclusion, sir, I should like to say that I can claim to bo a regular swimmer. With the oxceprion. of myself and' a

friend, no one patronised the hatha from April 30 to July 31. I should like to know what claim your correspondent has to class himself among the regular swim mors.—l am, etc., H. J. DODSON.