§ MR. J. R. YORKEasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether the Local Government Board have recently sanctioned the erection of a new swimming bath for the boys of the pauper training ship Exmouth at a cost of £2,700, of which £200 was the architect's commission; whether such new swimming bath is to be tepid, covered and sheltered, with boiler house, gas engine, and pump attached; and whether the erection of the building was deemed to be so urgent that the contract was entered into without advertising for tenders; whether it is the fact that the original cost of the existing floating bath in the River Thames, when constructed in 1876, was only £300; and, whether he is aware that at Eton and other schools of similar class swimming is taught and learned in rivers, without any such cover or shelter, or any arti- 242 ficial appliances whatever, such as it is now proposed to supply to pauper boys at the expense of the Metropolitan ratepayer?
MR. GEORGERUSSELLThe Local Government Board have assented to the proposal of the managers to erect a new swimming bath for the boys on board the Exmouth, which is moored off Grays. The estimated expenditure of £2,700 includes £500 for a building required for the repair of the ship's boats and for putting them under cover during the winter. The nature of the subsoil of the site on which the buildings are to be erected renders it necessary that they should be of a substantial character, so that they may resist the effects of the strong winds in such an exposed situation, and this increases the expense. The bath is to be covered and provided with the means of warming the water when necessary. The proposal that the managers should not be required to advertise for tenders was not made on account of the urgency of the matter, but for the reason that the ground on which the building was to be erected was of such a peculiar nature as to render it desirable that a builder should be employed who had experience in placing buildings upon similar soil. The proposal was, instead of advertising for tenders, to obtain tenders from a few firms who had constructed riverside premises. The sum paid by the managers for the floating bath when it was handed over to them by the managers of the Forest Gate School district, by whom it was constructed, was about £300. This was fast decaying, and its condition was reported to have become dangerous. The open floating bath, without any shelter, could, in consequence of its exposed position on the Thames, the keenness of the winds, and the force of the tides, be used for instruction in swimming on only a few days in the year. In 1881 there were only 16 days on which swimming could be taught; in 1882 there were 30 days. The managers fully considered the matter, and, having regard to the importance of swimming as a means of athletic exercise and muscular development, especially in the case of boys who are being trained for the sea service, the Board did not consider that they would be justified in withholding their consent to the proposal of the managers.