MIXED BATHING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17171, 15 October 1923, Page 5

MIXED BATHING.

AUCKLAND CRITICISM. The sport of swimming is pursued with more life, vigour and energy in Christchurch than in any other of the Dominion centres, and it came with something of a. shock to the averago Aucklander to read in the telegraphed news from the cathedral city last week that the members of a certain dub were the latest “converts'* to the idea of mixed bathing, which was said to increasing in popularity, states the Auckland “ Star.*' Apparently the convictions of the Victorian ago still linger in Christchurch to an extent noo realised by Aucklanders long inured to mixed bathing on their many beaches for nearly five months of the year, and to men and women disporting themselves together in the water of the public baths.

This pruder)‘. hownvpr. is only apparent. and the rosnll of tho var-k nf swimming pool im-iliiies than of nar-row-mindedness or mark mmlpsty. In Aur‘kland (‘ilS’ “'0 have thrvo puhlivha’rhs. one «if u'liir‘h (the topiil haths) has separate pm‘nls for men aml women, At the CUlil Water hafhs at Shelly Heat-h and Pariwll provision is made for LIL; regulation of mixorl halhing in the ram mnn pnnl‘ hy having fixed hours for mixnrl or {nmily bathing in the former. and by separminz the dressing sherls at fhe latter. \\l'lll"h is» uin-ommunly largo Thus with the heat-hos so lianrlv alnl other pools at the Y.)l.('..\‘ zlnrl thr‘ Normal. Mount Ellen anrl Maungan-hau Sr-honls. in addition to mixml hathing under supervision in the men‘s pool at the tepid baths on r-lnh nights (Whivli or-r'ur about. nnr‘e a Week in the 80:17 snni. Anrklnnd families arp rarely sol:regatml h)‘ inahilirv in meei the vanrentions “hen they desire U) have :1 din ln C‘hristr-liiirr~li. however. the pnpib lane is less adequatelv eatvreil fur iv: this respei-t- hy nature nnrl tlu‘ (ii-it: authorities. They are keen on suini» mimz as a. spnrl (ln\\'“ Ll’N-‘TER but the hennhes are not handy. and the swim minz pools are r-ornparativnly few, Sn whorl a, lar] wants to tearh his sisters, and his vmisins and his annta how [i splash along the Mark in fan-w out out in: (hritha Rhanrll he. and his natm tnrial pupils, experienr‘e difficulty about, prar'lising together. [L is tho ultl storv of .\l:ihmnnf ontl the mountain Either the (‘irir authorities have to he shiftprl to provirln more: pnhlic haths. so that the mixed bathing slim: from each might in the aggregate fulfil the publir» demand for familv and party swim» ming‘ m' tho conventional arrangements have to be widened to increase the mix—ml bathing hours at, tho baths at pre sent available. Evidently (‘hristrhuroh is taking the easier war by enlarging the hours for mixed bathing at the existing baths. and having it untlcr sniinming t-luh supervision to l<(‘r‘p down the (i'airri-esque Postnmr- tandem". murvh as is done nr‘rnsinnallv With the men‘s pool of the Auvklanrl ferirl haths. Thev have apparently been hax’ing, trouble with tho die—hards of oustnm. but seem to be winning through. and prohablv mixed bathing in the public hat-ha in Christvhurch will he mmh ..more general than it is in. Auckland;