HEALTHFUL PRACTICE

NZ Truth, Issue 1210, 7 February 1929, Page 6

HEALTHFUL PRACTICE

Mayor Objects To Scantily -Clad

Beach Habitties

(Prom "N.Z. Truth's^' .Special Christchurch Representative).

Mayor W. H:. Nicholson, "who guides' the municipal destinies of the pocket-size borough of Sumner-by-the-Sea, has tickled the : ribs of broad-minded people m; Christchurelv by a prurient denunciation of the scantily-clad young men aiid women who lately crowded; the Sumner beaclbi^when the thermometer was going : : i pink m the face/break'ijigr'a'll-.^known records. |

JjERHAPS it was a coincidence tha 1 on the same day that r Mayor Nich olson allowed his'^pent-up feeling-: to effervesce, a Christchurch lady, wel knoyvn for her social welfare work told VN.Z. Truth" that onfall hjer" visit* to Siimner she had: never seep; artj disorderly conduct or breaches of'-pri-vilege' by any of th 6 bathers. ■ : ; ' •' «V; : Except to those, wtose conservative crust has remained impervious to th< upward trend of modern thought, th( sight of the human form is becoming so familiar that it passes .almost unnoticed, and the ' ultra-purists who I object to the freedom of you th — from clothes — are invariably tho s c whose lack of physical conformity deters them fron an unclothed fling on the beaches. The case of the Christchurch people is an unenviable one, for it is the lack of enterprise on the part of the seaside city fathers that has created a position which gives the narrow-minded ones scope for talk. Almost without exception, the more popular seaside reßorts adjacent to the principal cities have provided dressingroom accommodation for the public. It is an essential factor m attracting visitors and popularizing' the wateringplaces. Yet on the beaches at Christchurch

Freedom of Youth

t there is no public accommodation, and | - /people coming from a distance, ; ; g, or without cars or friends •; 1 with cribs living near by, are v „ left to the mercy of enterprising busi- T 3 ness people, who let cubicles for hire's ' r at- sixpence a time. ' : ;v If there was any actual indecency to .f complain about, the local authorities ,: 1 themselves , would be to blame for not $ having sufficient, "nouse" to appreciate ■ 2 what an added attraction, their beaches -..;. ; would be if the public were adequately - catered' for with dressing "shed accom- , - . _ modation. "Truth" has been . a regular visitor to the Ghristchureh, beaches this "sUm^ ' raer, and has s?en " "nothing to whiclii',---l exception could be taken. y Most people are more broad-minded ''■ than Mayor JVicholson, but those who censor innocent people bent on a day's enjoyment must realize that surf ' ' bathers are forced to take a risk m , undressing where accommodation is not provided for them. ; , The bathing suit of to-day Is quite , a respectable garment, and the ultra- . purists can have Jittle faith m modern youth if they imagine that civilization ; is heading for ruin merely because the ■.; '■ l-ising generation chooses to follow the ' ; healthy pastime of bathing as much of its . unclothed body as possible m the i sunshine, as well as m the surf. - .\