BATHING IN PUBLIC

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1627, 15 December 1905, Page 3

BATHING IN PUBLIC

£To the Editor Gisborne Times^ Sir, —I notice a local in Wednesday’s issue referring to bathing on the beach. I think some notice should he taken of the shameless manner of bathing that is indulged in by the young men on the two rivers. It it quite a common occurrenco to see youths and grown-up people also bathing stark naked in the day. time. Now, in any civilised town this would soon be put a stop to by the authorities, and it only wants an example to be made of some of them to compel them to dress in proper bathing costume from neck to knee. It is very disagreeable to boating parties, in which there may ho ladies, to come on these bathers as I have described. In fact if the nuisance is allowed to continue it will prevent them from boating. Are there no bylaws in-existence regulating bathing ? If not there should be, and the police should have instructions to see that common decency is regarded.—-! am, ' ’ Watcemax.

(To the Editor Gisborne Times.) • Sir —I was very pleased to see by the local in Wednesday morning’s paper that someone had the courage to call public attention to the way men are monopolising the beach. I don’t know who has the control of the beach, but whoever has (either the Harbor Board or the Borough Council) should take steps to see that proper dressing accommodation is provided, especially for ladies. At present there is only one shed for ladies, and that is privately owned; others who wish to bathe have to make shift a 3 best they can. At Sumner, New Brighton, Timarn and other watering places in tho South bathing sheds are erected by the Borough Councils, a woman is placed in charge of the sheds and a small charge is made for the hire of them. If tho local Council is too poor to provide the necessary funds for tho erection of sheds on the Waikanae Beach

I thiuk the difficulty could be got oyer by a public subscription. I don’t think the cost, of say a dozen sheds, would exceed £IOO. I am willing to start the list with 10s if some lady will take charge of it. There seems to be a rr r eat cry in Gisborne against mixed bathing; personally, I causoo no harm iu it provided both soxes wear the regulation suit. It is no uncommon sight at other watering places to see a man teaching his wife, or his sister, or somebody olro’s sister, to swim, anu I understand mixed bathing is the custom in England. A lady once told me that she had more confidence in herself when learning to swim if there was a man near, because the chances

wore that the averago man was able to swim and could roscuo her if she got into difficulties, wherms very few wornou can swim. If ladies were not so modest porhaps a few of them would take advantage of mixed bath iuo-, and learn to swim, and they in turn could teach others. Hoping someone will take the matter of bathing iheds in hand. —1 am, etc,, A Male Batueii.

(To the Editor ol the Times.) Si —I cordially agree wi li your remarks 1 on the subject of bribing, and think the ; au'.boritcj should take a firm hand in i punishing those whose conduct' tends lo

deprive ladiee oi the pleasure ot a walk on tbo bcacb. Tho ordina-y man who appreciates a bfttho rurs into tho water and there disporis himsdf ts bis bouts content, but lately, to tho disgust of the mm who enjoys a swim, there has become noticeable a class of men whose chief aim seems to bo only to roll round in at ncady a nudo condition as they daro. On a recent afternoon the few seats avai'able on tte high bank were occupied by men whoso only covering were very abbroviaiod trunks. If tho misconduot continues it moans that that those of us wbo like an 1 afternoon swim will bo driven off tbo beach. An occasional walk down by a * policeman would soon right matters. — 1 I am, eta, t BEACH-BATHER.