GERALDINE PUBLIC SUPPORT LACKING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21805, 7 November 1940, Page 3

GERALDINE PUBLIC SUPPORT LACKING

Swimming Club In Difficulties Baths Need Repairing The public should realise the value to the town and district of the swimming facilities provided and the many improvements which have been carried out, states the report to be presented at the annual meeting of the Geraldine Swimming Club this evening. The year opened. with a credit balance of 16-4. Although the Domain Board had supplied all necessary labour for maintenance work, the club has continued to meet cost of materials which over a year is considerable in relation to the small income. A disappointing response had been met with the issue of membership tickets and. owing to the manv dpmar' ! s •incurred by the- war, the difficulties in maintaining the .finance and meeting commitments on the water supply account would undoubtedly be greater in the future. Improvements made included the fresh water supply and women’s new dressing sheds, the report continued, and these had been appreciated by the public. Difficulty in filling the pool was still being experienced on account of leakages but no funds were at present available for overcoming the trouble which would entail relining the whole pool and providing a new outlet. Full control and the right to levy charges for admission were offered the club by the Domain Board but were declined. Notices had been erected by the club to the effect that swimmers used the baths at their own risk. Although the provision of a caretaker had been found impossible the club had attempted to arrange supervision on a voluntary basis during busy periods. The annual carnival had been abandoned but weekly swims were well supported by the younger swimmers. There had been a regretable lack of public interest and the work of supervising the swims had fallen rather heavily on a few members of the committee. Full use of the facilities had been made by both the primary and secondary departments of the school and classes of instruction were held regularly under the supervision of teachers. The baths were also used for the South Canterbury District High Schools’ sports.