MEN’S BEACH WEAR

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 93, 14 January 1935, Page 10

MEN’S BEACH WEAR

Shorts “Come to Stay” at Christchurch SALES TREBLED Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, January 12. Woollen shorts as beach wear for men,seem to have come to stay. This season their use has grown considerably. and men may frequently be seen wearing, this form of costume on the beaches at Sumner, New Brighton, North Beach, and Waimari. the chief bathing places near Christchurch. Both the. New Brighton and tlie Sumner Borough Councils have altered the bylaw which had been in force for many years, but it appears that the wearing of shorts such as are now becoming common is an infraction of the regulation at Sumner. However, no complaints have teen made to either of these local bodies about the use of woollen shorts, and the present attitude of both seems to be that any costume may te worn on the beaches so long as it is decent. Sales of Shorts Trebled. In Christchurch it seems a fair enough assumption that most bathers will adopt shorts for teach wear. Last season very few were to be seen,, but this year they are a common sight. Two prominent retailers of bathing costumes who were approached agreed that their sales of woollen shorts this season had more than trebled those of the previous season, and one said he had no doubt that the ordinary costumes which fasten over the shoulders would be off the market in two or three years. Tlie Mayor of New Brighton, Mr, E. A. M. Leaver, said that no complaints had been received about the use of woollen shorts on the beaches under his council's control. The council had no definite ruling about Hie requirements of a costume, and it was quite prepared to agree to the use of woollen shorts ns. long as they were coufired to the beach. The old by-law affecting beach wear had been ridiculous in view of modern developments, and the council now felt that any costume could be worn on the beaches as long as it was decent. He agreed that what constituted decency was a matter for discretion. Cost nines in the Streets. However, the council was against the wearing of beach costumes in the streets of the borough, and just before Christmas it had instructed its inspector that bathers wearing scanty costumes, though suitable for the beach, were not to be allowed to walk through the borough streets without some adequate covering. The council had had no trouble with any persons wearing indecent costumes on the beach, although there had been complaints that both men and women were walking through the streets scantily clad. Mr. W. IL Nicholson. Mayor of Sumner said he thought the by-law in his borough provided for costumes which fastened at the shoulder, and had a skirt attached. In this case Hie use of shorts was illegal, but lie felt that no prosecution would lie begun unless a person was indecently clad. No complaints whatever had boon made about the use of shorts on Hie Sumner beach. The council’s object in defining the costume to be used was to have a by-law which, if an information were laid under it. would be considered reasonable by a magistrate.