BATHING IN THE NUDE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 March 1939, Page 8

BATHING IN THE NUDE

“ENTIRELY FOR HEALTH REASONS” YOUNG WOMAN CONVICTED IN AUCKLAND. MAGISTRATE'S SEVERE COMMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 10. Seen bathing in the nude on Takapuna Beach last Monday by a number of persons, including school children and a police constable, a young single woman, whose name was suppressed, appeared before Mr C. R. Orr Walker.' S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, admitting a charge of wilfully and obscenely exposing her person on the beach at a time when it was being used by the public. She said' she was bathing in the nude entirely for health reasons and did not realise she was offending anyone. Sub-Inspector Fox said defendant’s habit of bathing in the nude was investigated by a constable as a result of complaints. When he went' to the beach at 3.55 p.m. last Monday he saw her in the nude splashing about and often standing up in water about 18in deep. There were two young men and three young women standing watching her. When the constable walked towhrd her she left the water quite openly in front of him. ’She walked about a chain before drying herself on a towel and putting on a pair of shorts. When accosted by the constable she said she was an associate of the "Back to Health” Movement, continued Mr Fox. She did not consider there was anything wrong in what she was doing and frankly admitted that she had previously bathed in the nude on the same beach, including an occasion when boys and girls from the Takapuna Grammar School passed close to her as she lay nude on the beach. “ACTION QUITE IMPROPER.” Her action was quite improper. She lived at Takapuna with her parents, and was not employed. She intended going to the Islands shortly for a holiday. Asked why she had acted in this way, defendant said she did so entirely for health reasons. She did not belong to a nudist club but had practised nudism ever since 'she could remember. “I do not know why that should make any difference,” said the magistrate. "There is not very much differenc between nudism and the latest bathing costumes. Why did you not wear a costume?” "I wanted to get the sun’s rays all over my body,” defendant answered. "It cured me of a skin disease. I realise I have been foolish an! might have known other people would not have the same views on the subject as I have.” The magistrate: “Do you consider you are entitled to do it again?” FOLLY REALISED. Defendant: "Certainly not. I now realise my folly. I do not see what difference it would have made if I had had a bathing suit on, but nobody could understand that.” The magistrate said he could only conceive that an element of insanity would cause a woman of defendant’s age to act as she had done. A kink was indicated and defendant had been a disgrace to herself and to her sex, nor was she justified in such a disgraceful act even judged by modern standards. "I do not think punishment is appropriate, but you will be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence it called upon within six months,” the magistrate added. "Understand that there is to be no repetition of this sort of behaviour or yon will be brought up and dealt with." Consenting to defendant’s application for the suppression of her name, the magistrate said taking the view he did he thought it. was advisable that her name should not be published, as it might lead to all sorts of complications-