The Star. MONDAY, MARCH 24, 1902. A MUNICIPAL BATH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7360, 24 March 1902, Page 2

The Star. MONDAY, MARCH 24, 1902. A MUNICIPAL BATH.

For some time past there has been a distinct and growing feeling here that Christchurch ought to possess a public swimming bath.* Some of the cur- j rounding suburbs are provided with these j invaluable aids to health. All, or nearly | all, have baths attached to their primary ! schools, and most of these are open, under restriction, to the members of swimming clubs situated in each suburb. Compared with the surrounding boroughs, the city itself is badly supplied with means of bathing. There is one bath at the East Christchurch schools and another at the West Christchurch school, and that is about all. A larg^ institution like the Normal school J does not possess one, and if we except the , river and the baths at Christ's College and the Boys' High School, which necessarily partake of tne nature of private institutions, there is not a single place within the Belts at which a taste for bathing) may be gratified. It is high time that this condition of things should be changed. Christchurch ought to possess a bath capable of accommodating not only the members of swimming clubs who may desire to use it, but ; also " unattached " swimmers who may like to take an occasional dip. This idtea seems to have struck the /members of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Swimming j Association, for they have appointed a j deputation to wait on-the City Council this evening and urge it to establish a municipal swimming ibath. It will suggest, so we understand, that the bath should be constructed so that it. could be heated, and, : with this object in view, the deputation will further suggest that it' should Ife placed as near the Central Yard as possible, in order that the furnace of the De? structor might be used for Ithe purpose. To our mind this proposal seems a most excellent one. • A site near the Destructor would have many advantages. It would enable the bath to be heated, and its would be central enough to afford facilities for bathing to residents in all parts of the city. But before going into details of this kind it will 'be necessary for the Council to affirm the desirableness of establishing a bath. In view of its habits of procrastination, we confess that we are not very sanguine that it will be persuaded! to adopt so bold an initiative without much cogita- ; tion, but if the corporation can, be induced to take the matter up energetically, the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Swimming Association will hare earned the thanks of the entire community.