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43
Public Baths.
In my report for 1910 I strongly urged the
formation of an open-air swimming bath and was
sanguine enough to think that support might be
forthcoming for it, but though nobody could or
would gainsay the desirability of such an additional
asset to our amenities, yet nevertheless the
question of expense was deemed to be insuperable
and nothing came of it.
However, in view of the added population
year by year since the Census of 1911, together
with the prospective and certain increase that
must take place during the next few years, consequent
on the housing impetus, it is in my opinion
imperative that the idea should be kept in the
foreground and ever pressed forward until accomplished.
Eligible sites are few and must become
fewer as building progresses, so that if the matter
is relegated indefinitely to the distant futuresay
another ten years—it will surely then be held
that golden opportunities have been lost to the
inhabitants of having public baths, or at least an
open-air swimming bath, under our own control
for benefit of the residents and for the instruction
of hundreds of boys and girls in the necessary
art of swimming. If facilities were given for
swimmers to indulge their fancies, and the opportunity
of instruction in swimming were held out
as an inducement, I am sure there would be a very
large number ready and eager to seize it.
E