HOW MUCH SKIN?

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1934, Page 3

HOW MUCH SKIN?

A SPORTS PROBLEM

AUSTRALIA WORRIED

(From "The Post's" RaprwtnUtlva.) SYDNEY, January aB. The attire to be worn by the sports- , man—and the sportswoman—seems to be providing one of the most ebntro- ! versial subjects in Australia at the preI sent' time. At the beginning of the \ [summer season tho surfers were involved, mainly because some of the surf costumes that were on display in. the city shops were a little more brief- than last year. There were discussions as to whether, tho new backless . costumes ,' were "quite £ho thing," and some of the suburban councils, with beaches under their control, threatened to appoint costume censors. However, backless costumes became so common that no move was made against them, but no girls hayo been brave enough to appear in public in the, brassiere and trunk arrangements that have been offered by some of the city stores. These would undoubtedly be "censored." Of course, the old idea of neck-" to knee has gone for ever, but the " Surfing and Life-saving' Association insists that swimmers appearing in competitions under its banner shall.. b» reasonably clad. And, so it is that on th« Sydney beaches the men are more ■ covered than the women. , Tennis was the next sport to com* into tho limelight. , Several of th» more prominent players gave the public a mild shock by appearing on the courts in shorts, and the first womaiuto do go got more than her fair share of publicity. The ethics of shorts were discussed from every angle. They hay» been'objected to mainly on the score that they permit tho display of "nobbly knecg" and legs that are far from handsome. That is as far as the men are concerned. As to their suitability for women, opinion has been more divided, and, there are many who claim that women tennis players can be just '* us comfortable in short white skirts, • such as they have favoured in the past. The devotees of shorts have' grown in number, and the Lawn Tennis Association of New South Wales somewhat startled the tennis world when it announced that shorts worn at the Australian championship meeting, which opened in Sydney today, would not have official approval. Shorts have not actually been banned, but it will be interesting to see what will happen if they are wo,rn. ' FROCKS OJf BOWLING «REENB. \ Now.,the controversy on the question of dress for sports wear has spread to bowls. A-member of a ladies' bowling ~ club in Melbourne lias been threatened with disqualification because she appeared in- a silk dress with a ■ cut-in "V" six iuches down her back. She said she was amazed .when she received ■ an official warning that she was nox, suitably dressed. At first she took the' matter ■as a joke, but ' she soon dis- - covered that it was not a joke. In ordur that she might complete her 'game ' an opponent provided her with a jumper tha) came right up round her neck. The president of the Women Bowlers' Association explained that' the rules provided for a certain uniform dregs. Short sleeves were not permitted, and that being so, how could the association allow one woman to wear a. dress with I a cut half-way down ,the back? The ' problem- has been referred to the association 's committee "■ • -- , The uecessity for conforming strictly to tho rules was stressed by the president of the Now South Wales Women's Bowling Association (Mrs. U. Wolinski), who.said that a serious ' view must be taken of the Adoption of any fashion which would lead to , retrogression in the neat uniform attire which has been maintained by womeit. 4 bowlers, but autocratic and arbitrary methods in attaining that object were not desirable", in the. interests of all concerned.- It must be realised that wom^n expressed her individuality iji hor clothes, but an appeal to the loynlty of any association member to up-, hold the aims and* ambitions of ' the governing body would be received in a proper sporting spirit, and the associations 'Wishes would be respected. Unless they adhered strictly to the rules in regard to appearing on tho bowling greens in tho prescribed uniform women were apt to lapse. Their uniform was cream- frock, with, long sleeves, white shoes and white stockings, and the association badge- on a white hat, instead of- a band. ■ For women of mature years low-cut frocks would not be dignified. Although the wearing of such frocks was not contrary to the rules, the wisheft of,.the association and loyalty to. those in authority who objected to such 'a departure" were paramount.' Their association was insistent on keeping up the standard of women in bowls in regard to suitable attire. They demanded that even coloured underclothing must not o be worn when playing the game., It was most important that they should adhere strictly to the rule. A eostum* that was above the knees would be most unsuitable, as were low-cut frock*.