CORSAIR BAY BATHS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10302, 6 November 1911, Page 1

CORSAIR BAY BATHS.

SWIMMING CLUB DEFENDS ITSELF. The action of the Lyttelton Borough Council in granting the Lyttelton Ladies' Swimming Club the exclusive use of the Corsair Bay bathing enclosure on Wednesday afternoons has boen the subject of much criticism in the port during the past few days, the general opinion being that the Council had mado a mistake in placing any restriction on the public use of the bath; but tho.se cognisant of the details ask that tho position of the club should be considered before the Council is condemned wholesale.

The olub's view of the position was put very persuasively before a '' Lyttelton Times" representative by a lady supporter of the club. She stated that the club had been in existence for four years, and its only concession was the sole uso of th© bath on its annua! carnival day. During the past two years the club had done its utmost to encourage swimming amongst children attending tlio schools in Lyttelton. Wednesday afternoon had been selected ai; the day for instruction, and in order that the work of the iirtructors should be carried out unhindered the present request had been made, and considering the amount of good done already amongst the young folk the club thouglit that little or no opposition would be encountered. Tho statement that* an attempt "was being made to conserve Wednesday afternoon for the '' Upper Ten " was absolute nonsense. At present there were over sixty school children who were, members of the club, and trophies were offered for races during the season. .Between the. hours of 3 and 4 p.m. on Wednesday a large number of adult members associated to help the little ones. For some time past their work has been considerably hampered bv persons coming from Christolitirch'by a morning train uud taking possession of one of the sheds. Instances had been known where visitors had monopolised a- shed throughout the day. They seemed to forget that the sheds were erected for bathers to dress in and nob for picnickers. Tho club did not ask for any special favour, and if the Council erected a shed for the school children the club would only be too pleased to pay its share of" the cost, so that the work amongst the children wouid be carried oui unhampered. The matter was also mentioned to a master of one of tho schools, who remarked that it seemed a pity that when a body of lady enthusiasts wore making attempts to do goad for the children they should be subjected to harsh criticism. lie could give the names of dozens of children who were now able to swim as the result of the ladies' efforts.