BATHING ON THE BEACH.
ALLEGED LACK OF DECOEUM.
(By TelegTaph.—Special Correspondent.) / Auckland, January 22. A lack of decorum on the part of bathers on the Devonport and, Cheltenham beaches .'was alleged by members of the Devonport Borough Council at its moeting last eveHingV ••• *•' ; ■■■•/■ - ■ . Councillor A. J.' Tapper, who -stated that a friend of his who had just Ter turned from Sydney had informed him that on Boxing Day ho had visited Manly Beach, where there' was a, crowd of 65,000, holiday trippers, and he had not seen suoh unseemly, Bights there on the, part of bathers as ho had Ecen at Cheltenham Beach last Sunday. Tho councillor urgodu that ; something should be done to control the'' bathers on the beaches at 'Devonport and' Cheltenham. Ho had been told that the dress- —
, A councillor (interrupting): Its undress. \ . ' ;•. ■■
Councillor Tapper (continuing)! That the lack of dress on Cheltenham Beach was being talked about all over/the district. and it was the duty of tho council to see that proper . costumes ; were worn on the "beach: It was a very serious duty they had to perform. ; Councillor AV, Nixon said that he had roce.ntly visitiod both beaches, but -ho had seen nothing 'to - whioh exception could: bo taken. ' On the Devonport Beach, however, thora were hundreds of people,; and the bathing; accommodation was quite inadequate :for them. '
Councillor T. Cohsidino said .that the Auckland City Council had, during tho busy season appointed two men to ; see that tho. bathers at Shelly Beach wore, dccent costumes, ■ and the same', method should -be adopted .at Cheltenham.' If' the council could not afford to do that it .should' appeal to tlio police.' He objected to people'going backward- and forward in -the streets in their bathing costumes, a practice,.which was 'due to tho lack of accommodation; The Cheltenham Beaoh; was eotting like the Domain' at 1 night time^:'something,) nauseating," altholigh tho latter plaoeowas' improving a little now. He moved that a temporary, shelter,' "which; could bo added! to if the necessity arose," be erected at .the Vauxhall end of the beaoh at a cost of i!ls, for the use. of women :and ohildren.
Councillor. Wi. Parsons suggested' that tho police should bo appealed to. '■ The borough clerk, referring to the Devonport Beach, stated that the polico had intimated; that they could do nothing until n by-law: dealing .with the question, was passed. J Councillor A. G. Quartley objected to any "scare lines" being used in connection with the matter. He pointed out that the olause which woula havo; been effective to deal; with 'the,, matter had beon deleted from the by-laws,'and the police had no power to deal with offends crs unless they'actually came within the meaning of. tlio laws dealing with obscenity. Publio, resentment, he thought, would be more effective thai any by-laws thnt might ,bo passed.. . ;■ ' , The Mayor (Mr. W. Handley) remarked that :he had 1 hitherto entertained tho opinion that tho Police. Offences s Act would meot all requirements, but evidently this was not EO. The clork was at present gathering : data.'• for by-laws which, would probably remedy any trouble < that. might, exist. Until these bylaws came'into force the aucstion had perhaps better be left in'abeyance. Councillor T. 'W. Cranch thoupht that if the .bathers .were publicly informed that the council was determined, to suppress any lack of decency' there would be no further trouble. Counoillor D.'W. M'Lean said . that there was no. doubt that' tho'present Accommodation was very primitive and was ovcTcrowded.On the ocoasions ho had visited Cheltenham, Beach, he had not seen anything ,which could bo objeoted to! If the police?could do nothing then tho only remedy was. to frame a by-1 aw. Butter bathing facilities should undoubtedly be provided. He' moved as an amendment that the matter, bo referred to tho Streets and Works- Committee. After-a littlo further , disoussion tho amendment was carried. •
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Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1657, 25 January 1913, Page 6
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641BATHING ON THE BEACH. Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1657, 25 January 1913, Page 6
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