The Waipa Post. Published on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1924. THE SWIMMING BATHS.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1577, 22 November 1924, Page 4

The Waipa Post. Published on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1924. THE SWIMMING BATHS.

THE effort that is being made to raise the additional money required to provide and equip the local public swimming baths is 'deserving of all support, especially ,by the townspeople. The provision of such a fine medium of recreation is to be commended, but its use for recreation purposes is not the only phase that should be considered. The facilities that will be afforded for learning the art of swimming, not necessarily for competitive contests, but for use in preserving life, make the endeavour of the promoters universal. It may be said, indeed it has been said, that the civic authorities should have appealed to the ratepayers to sanction a loan for the swimming baths; but there was such a widespread desire among' those of our in- | habitants who are not ratepayers to undertake the task of raising the money, or most of the money, that this course was decided upon in preference to a ratepayers’ loan. But while everybody will have opportunity to benefit by the provision; of the baths, ratepayers should note that the baths constitute another up-to-date facility in the town to make it attractive as a place to live in. The Borough Council, recognising this, has not been backward in contributing from the rates and other revenue, towards the cost, while its officers ar& actively participating in the desire to provide really well-appointed, roomy and sub-, stantial baths. Thus all are contribut-, ing in some small way; but the money objective has not yet been; reached, despite the appeals by way of carnivals, etc. At present an AbUUnion as in progress, and the prizes offered are well worth winning. Tickets are reported to be selling fairly well, but nothing like so, freely as was hoped at the outset. A special effort is. to be made to bring the Art Union more prominently under the notice of the. general public, in the hope that the public, appreciation of a voluntary effort for the good of the town will result in all the tickets available being disposed of. There are some people in Te Awamutu, as. in other places, who have conscientious objections to participating in this method of moneyraising, and they are certainly entitled to. their opinions; nothing should be done to. hurt their feelings or wound their susceptibilities by -trying to induce them to buy tickets. these people will presumably , use .the baths as much as others.who are actively supporting the effort, and we hope they will adopt the' alternative of direct giving to the best of their ability. Their children are just as liable to be concerned in bathing fatalities as are the children of other people; and thus the provision of baths where swimming will be taught and practised is of just as much concern to the one as to the other. The great bulk of the money necessary has already been raised; it is the balance that is frequently so hard to obtain. Hence the reason for our referring so directly to the matter.