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[The National Review - Winter] Editor: Stewart Ransom (Pages: 14 - 1/6 per annum)
Contents:-
Editorial
What is the appeal of Naturism?
Psychological Attitudes and Nudism
News from the Clubs (9)
Native Trees Suitable for screening Club Grounds
A Reader's views on Naturist Activities in New Zealand
National Organisation
How to visit a club
Nudism in New Zealand, The Present and the Future (First of three articles by Gerald Wakely.)
Customs Department Seize our Magazines
Editorial |
The first issue of National Review has had mixed reception, although predominately favourable. A sincere thank you to so many who have written with suggestions, comments and appraisals. This, and future issues will endeavour to incorporate, many of these worthwhile ideas. The cyclostyled sheet will, I regret, have to suffice until we can afford a more stylish publication. An improved layout and stencilling with more interesting features are among our aims for this issue. Gerald of A.O.H.C. is doing much to help us achieve this. Many more articles are needed, so do not feel reticent about sending forward your own literary efforts.
What is the |
It is of interest contemplating why Naturism has made such a strong appeal to each of us. So much has already been written on this subject by members in overseas journals, and I am sure our own analysis of the appeal would be very similar. However, it is not often that members express their views on how they consider the movement should benefit the community. These considerations were expounded by one of the correspondents to the Editor, and, with the writers permission, they have been published in this issue. I have no doubt that many others also have definite ideas on this subject and I invite then to send them forward for inclusion in a series of articles on this subject.
So unconventional an interest as social nudity must have a very strong appeal for so many to risk prejudiced scorn and condemnation. The assessment of this appeal must be high and therefore indicative of its possible benefits to many others. Member's evaluation of this appeal will interest us all and do much to clarify our thinking while determining our aims and objects.
PSYCHOLOGICAL |
A summary, by Norman of Kaurimu Club, of a |
There is an observed tendency for certain attitudes to be found in association with one another, and consequently individuals may be separated into two types according to which alternative system they favour. It may also be seen that children form their ideals by copying one or other of their parents, depending on relationships within the family. The person who models himself on his father is termed a patrist, and similarly the person who identifies with the mother figure is matrist. Thus there are two extremes of personality which may be correlated with the two types above.
The patrist develops a system of values marked by masculine virtues, and is authoritarian and restrictive; while the contrasting matrist denies the authority of his father, is progressive and assigns a high status to women. Thus we find in limiting cases, two alternative systems of attitudes which have the following main features:
| 1. Restrictive attitude to sex. | 1. Permissive attitude to sex. |
| 2. Limitation of freedom of women. | 2. Freedom for women. |
| 3. Women seen as inferior, sinful. | 3. Women accorded high status. |
| 4. Chastity more valued than welfare. | 4. Welfare more valued than chastity. |
| 5. Politically authoritarian. | 5. Politically democratic. |
| 6. Conservative: against innovation. | 6. Progressive: revolutionary. |
| 7. Distrust of research, enquiry. | 7. No distrust of research. |
| 8. Inhibition, fear of spontaneity. | 8. Spontaneity, exhibition. |
| 9. Deep fear of homosexuality. | 9. Deep fear of incest. |
| 10. Sex difference maximised (dress). | 10. Sex difference minimised. |
| 11. Asceticism, fear of pleasure. | 11. Hedonism, pleasure welcomed. |
| 12. Father-religion. | 12. Mother-religion. |
Consequently, patrists favour plain and sombre clothes while matrists prefer rich, colourful clothing.
At any particular period in history the predominant social group may be either
patrist or matrist, and the pattern is found to change from time to time, with
intervening happy periods in which both parental figures are introjected in harmonious
balance. There may also be a total rejection of both parents, which leads to failure
to form a satisfactory conscience, and completely ruthless and self-centred behaviour.
The early Greeks had a matrist society, while the Jews and Christians were patrists.
The matrism of the English Celts was replaced by Christian patrism, and the matrist
attitude returned with the Renaissance. The Puritans formed a patrist minority
taking their restrictive morality with them to New England, and patrism reasserted
itself, reaching its climax with the Victorians.
Our own age has moved far towards matrism although there are, of course, strong
patrist groups and patrist restrictions carry over from former times, "public" opinion
is more conservative than the sum of "private" opinion and the law
moves even more slowly than "public opinion, perhaps because the legal profession
and the police attract the patrist type of individual. Thus though few now consider
there is anything actually wicked in nudity, almost everyone is still embarrassed
to be found in a state of nudity and shocked by any public exhibition of it.
Characteristically; matrism is tolerant of nakedness. The Greeks had no fears of
nudity while the morality now designated as "Christian"; but meaning
rather "Victorian" shows all the patrist taboos. It is not surprising
therefore, that nudism should have its inception during a period of transition
to matrism and should flourish as the period becomes more progressive. The fact
that nudists remain a minority may be due to an inherent advantage which the patrist
has over the matrist: the stored-up energy which results from his sexual inhibition
seeks another outlet. It creates in him a restlessness, and if he is a man of ability
it helps him to impose his views on others. The matrist, on the other hand, believes
in "live and let live". A comparatively small number of patrists can
therefore markedly influence the character of a whole society, in a way which is
impossible for matrists. (Matrists, when in power, rarely pass laws compelling
patrists to behave as matrists do; but when patrists are in power they invariably
seek to make matrists conform.)
Matrism has defects but they are not as serious as the repressive standards of patrist periods which make sex an obsession. Since matrists turn their aggression inward they harm only themselves. Socially, matrist societies seem to lack the driving energy and discipline which makes for discovery and achievement: they tend to a happy-go-lucky philosophy of enjoying the present. Like the Trobrianders, they may be happy in the sun, but they are unlikely to excel in research. The desirable alternative to patrism, therefore, is not matrism, but a judicious balance between the two extremes, one with too much repression, the other too little.
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Are you doing anything to get people interested in THE NATIONAL REVIEW? The more copies you can get into people's hands, the sooner we shall have a magazine to measure up with the overseas ones.
NEWS FROM THE CLUBS...
Kaurimu Sun Club (Proprietory), Box 38 Henderson, Auckland.
A very wet "Kaurivale" has not discouraged members, for winter attendances have been good. Concrete blocks have been placed around the paddling pool, and the swimming pool has been cleaned. A Clubhouse is planned for the terrace overlooking the pool and games court.
Auckland Sun Club, (Proprietory), Box 2925, Auckland.
Auckland Outdoor Health Club (Inc.), (Members), Box 2702 Auckld.
Apologies for understating the area available to the Club - this is 25 acres in all, of which the Club has exclusive use of six. Work has been going on most week-ends clearing a part this, so that it may be put in grass and there will be a playing area for the summer. Next steps: a road in and a Clubhouse. Social programme is going well, discussion evenings being the major feature.
Waikato Health Club, P.O. Box 32, Hamilton East.
Please note the new Box number. After the Springbok visit it was proposed calling the Club The Mooloo Sunbathers. This was not adopted. We are looking forward to hearing more of this Club.
Gisborne Sun Club.
We are all anxious to hear of your progress.
Wellington Sun & Health Society (Inc.) (Members) Box 6359, Wgtn.
Social evenings have been well attended and given new members an opportunity to; meet many of the Club. The Half Annual Meeting finalised the incorporation and the Certificate has now been issued by the Registrar. In the midst of bog, rain and depressing weather a small but enthusiastic band continues to develop the new grounds. The Clubhouse is now in sections on the site and fencing followed by tree planting are the priority jobs.
Wanganui Sun Club (Proprietory), P.O. Box 410, Wanganui.
Canterbury Sun and Health Club, (Member), Box 1823, Christchurch.
The ladies are showing the way. They have dug the children's swimming pool and have now started on the main one. They have been top-dressing the tennis courts, sowing grass seed and helping to plant screening. The male effort has been equally spectacular clearing the site of stumps, roots and erecting the Clubhouse. The frame of the latter is already up. The well has been drilled and the drought at last broken. A most successful Shipwreck social and dance has been held. Well done, Canty.
Otago Sun and Health Club, (Member), Box 2058, South Dunedin.
Monthly social evenings are proving very popular as well as helping to increase the bank balance. This Club is also contemplating incorporation.
NATIVE TREES |
Some tips on the right |
Most of our clubs are developing their grounds if not still improving existing facilities. These winter months are fully utilised to this end and no doubt one of these activities is planting, since screening is always a priority. Many clubs are anxious to encourage the growth of our native flora and hence a list of suitable trees and shrubs may assist them.
July, August and September are the months best suited for the transplanting of young trees and therefore it seems opportune to offer these suggestions.
The New Zealand forest being fairly dense normally causes trees to grow tall with few thickly leaved lower branches. However, many do grow better for screening if well separated or free from overcrowding. The edge of the forests provide the best trees. Here they are already acclimatised to similar open conditions of Club grounds and will quickly thrive after transplanting.
| Trees: | |
| Titoki. (Alectra excelsum) |
Moderate size, fairly fast growing with leaves like that of the Ash. A hardy plant, tolerates 16 degrees of frost. |
| Wineberry. (Airistotelia serrata) |
Small rapid growing with a height of 30 ft. Very small leaves 1-2 ins long. Very small white or crimson flowers. Very hardy. |
| Putaputawheta. (Carpodetus serratus) |
Slow growing up to a height of 30 ft. Very small leaves 1-2 ins. long. Very small white flowers. Very hardy. |
| Karaka. (Corynocarpus laerigara) |
Small, round headed growing fairly fast but will tolerate only a few degrees of frost. Suitable near the coast. Has long orange berries. Germinates well. |
| Hinau. (Elaeocarpus dentatus) |
Very hardy medium sized but slow growing. Leaves 2-4ins long. |
| Ribbonwood. (Gaya lyalli) |
Small quick growing, lovely cherry white flowers in profusion. Deciduous leaves 3ins long. Very hardy. Grows also from cuttings. |
| Pigeonwood. (Hedycarya arborea) |
Hardy, small dense, quick growing. Leaves 3-4ins.long. Grows also from Cuttings. |
| Mahoe. (Melicytus ramiflorus) |
Very hardy, snail dense, leaves 2-4ins long. Tolerates wind. |
| Lacebark. (Hoheria sexstylosa) |
Hardy, very rapid growth. Leaves 4ins long or more. White flower masses. Small dense tree. |
Shrubs: |
|
| Coprosmas. | Over 40 varieties; some of the best are listed. |
| C. Bobusta. | Height 15ft. very hardy, rapid growth |
| C. Lucida. | Height 15ft. Very hardy |
| C. Grandiflora | Height 15ft. Very large broad leaves. |
| Veronicas: | Numerous, particularly suited to steep banks and waste ground. Normally low shrubs, hence tallest species are listed. |
| V. Augustifolia. | Height 6ft., very hardy, linear leaves up to 6 ins. |
| V. Macrocarpa. | Height 8 ft., hardy, beautiful white flowers, leaves thick and narrow. |
| V. Speciosa. | Large crimson flowers, leaves 2-3 ins. long, showy, not very hardy. |
| V. Diosmaefolia. | Height l5ft., hardy, very beautiful pale lilac flowers. |
The Lemonwood, Shining Broadleaf, Miro, and Totara make fairly satisfactory hedge plants if not clipped too severely. The latter two are slow growing but are very dense and little trimming.
A READERS |
The writer of the following letter |
"Although not a naturist club member, I am extremely interested in the development of such clubs throughout New Zealand.
I consider that much damage has been done in the past in other countries, and many converts lost, because of unwise articles and photographs. Many articles in Australian and English magazines stress the advantages of a good figure and even state that people over the age of 40 should not be allowed to join a club because their physique is on the down and down. Likewise the photo almost always show impressive figures.
Seeing that New Zealand has a comparatively small population and a cross section of the general public would reveal a fairly low percentage of near perfect figures, I think it wise to direct all publicity towards the encouragement of clean and healthy-minded folk of all ages, shapes and sizes. A typical advertisement could read
WELCOME TO SUNKIST CLUB.
(Description of grounds). Open to all healthy-minded families, couples, single women, and when possible, single men. Elderly folk and crippled people will receive a very kindly welcome. etc.etc.
As we are endeavouring to enlist the sympathy and understanding of Government Officials, Churches, Youth Clubs etc., we must offer proof of our good intentions. The people we are trying to interest are not fools. We are trying to achieve, at the least, a nation wide tolerance of our aims, and we must show that we are a genuine cross-section of N.Z. people ourselves and not a "one-track" minded bunch of uncharitable folk with a mania for health, exercise, and nudism.
To my mind, the sensible photos, under the circumstances, would be nudes of perhaps a crippled person being helped to a pool, a group having a sing-song, swimming in the pool, games of all descriptions, and, if a lovely girl must be included, let her be holding some little trophy as a winner of a games competition - an impersonal photo. If you want to kill the interest of lots of ordinary girls, then hold competitions for the most perfect body, and show photos of the winner being crowned. That is alright for a certain section of the public, but it is crippling for what we are after - a tolerant N.Z."
Now - what are your views?
NATIONAL ORGANISATION.
As promised in the last Review, we are happy to inform readers that we have received
100 copies of the pamphlet entitled, A MOTHER SPEAKS ON NUDISM by Ruth Kirk.
These will be of tremendous value in helping those hesitant ladies. Available
on application. Others are following, we hope.
Our correspondence is something like a lucky dip some days. Letters come in from
all over the world, many writers picking up our address in the magazines. Some
of the most unusual are chain letters; one stated the aims of the Rosicrucians,
and another of the Doukhabors; one was from a bathing costume manufacturer trying
to dissuade us from encouraging folk to go naked; and still another who sent us
a number of pamphlets on how to raise goats. Anonymous letters are not unusual
and one of these warns us to beware of skin cancer. Life is never dull!
QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST.
We are delighted to record our congratulations to a member of the Wanganui Sun Club whose bravery was acknowledged by Her Majesty for the rescue of fishermen in distress recently. The award was the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.
HOW TO VISIT A CLUB.
To avoid misunderstandings that have occurred in the past, a word of advice might be useful.
Don't just turn up at their grounds or give a few hours notice of your intention to visit another club.
Either get your Secretary to write to the Secretary in question or send a note from your Secretary with your request to visit. If this is done in plenty of time no difficulties should be experienced.
If you are not a member of a Club, then write to the National Organizer first, as you may not be known at the Club you hope to visit. This is only common courtesy and club secretaries must be sure they know who they are inviting.
NUDISM IN |
By Gerald of Auckland Outdoor Health Club (Inc). At the last National Rally A.O.H.C. circulated a paper with this title, giving an appreciation of the position of the movement in this country and recommending a plan for the future. It was agreed that Clubs would study this paper during the year and that it would be discussed at the next National Rally. The aim of these articles is to provide a commentary to the paper and to suggest the most important points to clarify. |
First, I would like to remind you of what we put at the top of the paper we submitted to the National Rally last year. It read:
"WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS: You're a nudist. The question as to whether you can continue to be one depends on you. There are many people who would like to see nudism forbidden by law. They work hard for this end. This paper is written to give an idea of what is at stake and what we can do. It shows why you must help and how."
I hope you will bear this in mind when reading these articles - this is something that concerns everyone; it's not something to leave to Perc and Rex and Ray and Gerald and those other bossy types who always want to step in and run things. Bear in mind, please, that in some countries with the sane institutions as New Zealand, in so-called democracies, social nudism is a breach of the law. It could happen here; it might well do so if we're too apathetic to do anything about organising ourselves on a country-wide basis.
The scope of these articles will be roughly this: the first one will give you some idea of the philosophy of nudism on which the paper was based so that you will be able to get an idea of why we suggested certain things; the second will go into details of the proposed organisation and the third will sum up and suggest how matters might be considered at the Rally and will deal with anything brought up by the other two.
In putting forward a philosophy of nudism one has got to realise that nudism can mean all things to all men. Writing elsewhere I have said: "May not a nudist connote to some a person who believes in 'back to nature' and no nonsense? who wouldn't eat meat or smoke tobacco or drink alcohol at any time? May it not mean also someone who seeks the sun on his naked body for purely health reasons and who, as the saying is, couldn't care less about boiled nettles and potato water? Could it not be also the type who finds in the pursuit of nakedness amongst others a purely mental release?"
By the way, you'll see that I use the term nudist. I'm a nudist - say it again louder, NUDIST. It seems I fall foul of my Editor and sponsors but I maintain that 'naturism' is a euphemism. Is it in a dictionary? Does it really mean anything? The suggestion is that it means back to nature, but how many of us do go back to nature? I'll tell you how it came about. A person who had been unwise enough to become a nudist found himself being asked what he did on his weekends by his mother-in-law who, though loathsome, was expected to benefit the family fortunes quite some when she finally flitted. 'We're nudists' seemed to have a faintly music hall, smutty ring to it, so he said 'we're naturists' and to the day she died the good woman thought he spent his week-ends chasing bugs like that nice Mr. So and So in the next street who was down in the electoral roll as a retired naturalist. The ends may have justified the means on one or two occasions but I do suggest that the word naturist merely puts people against us because they think we're trying to hide something, that we've something to be ashamed of, that there is something nasty in the woodshed after all.
So, first of all, whatever our approach to nudism, let's be honest about it. There is much potential good will for nudists in this country if only we will stick up for what we believe and not give the impression of being shifty and guilty about it all.
Secondly, I mentioned a philosophy of nudism, and I have said that it cannot be put down just like that but, on the other hand, there is a danger that we lose the sympathy of many would-be supporters, whether active or not, by being unable to put into words anything of what nudism means to us. Accordingly, I've tried to draw up a Nudist Credo - it may not fit your ideas, but I hope that you'll find something in it sufficiently near them to help you to think out what nudism really is to you. Here it is, then:
I recognise in nudism a means of attaining physical, mental and moral well-being for myself, my family and my friends in company with others of a like mind.
I appreciate the tolerance expressed by nudists and implicit in the practice of nudism.
I value nudism as a guarantee that my children will grow up with a natural, healthy attitude to sex.
I like nudism because I find that I have met others whose minds are sufficiently original to overcome a valueless convention and I enjoy the stimulus that I receive from their companionship.
I envisage nudism as an integral part of a community's life and not the life of a separate community.
I believe that nudism is a power for good but only if it remains tolerant of those who are intolerant of it.
One concept there needs explaining, I think. It is the one regarding the place of nudism in the community. There is a tendency amongst us to think always in terms of clubs and to envisage ourselves as forever shut away from everyone else. That, to me, is a poor attitude. It's defeatist and unconstructive and increases the something-nasty-in-the-woodshed suspicion in non-nudist's minds. Let's think of ourselves, on the contrary, as a movement that will take its place in the community and let us work to try to bring this about. In my next article I shall touch on ways and means of doing this but, en passant, I'd like to remind you of the excellent letter that precedes this article, [P13 with its reference to what we can do for the elderly and for cripples. Here's the crux of the whole thing: are we going to do anything for anyone else or are we just a lot of rather selfish people out for our ends and trying to justify our pleasure by saying how good it is for the children and so on?
If you think of any beneficial movement that has succeeded I think you'll agree that it has had one thing in common with others of the sane sort: unselfishness. Whether it be Rotary, the great religions, other movements of a beneficial nature that have spread throughout the world, they have had this in common: they have tried to work to help their fellow men. In tine some of these movements or religions may have lost this motive or it may have been obscured, but it was that motive that made it great.
Now, how do we show up here? I'd suggest, for want of anything to prove the contrary, that we show up rather badly. I hear that in the U.S.A. there are clubs that do quite a bit in this line and hide their light under a bushel but I wonder whether this is the case in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.
I think that it is very important that we rethink and replan our movement so that its basis is one of service to others. We can bring happiness to those who are less well off then us with very little effort to ourselves - the biggest effort will cone in a change of attitude on our part. If we are to make our movement something really worthwhile then we must make this effort and change our thinking.
We must quit thinking of our clubs only as places where we go to get a good tan or to have a free swim or to escape the neighbours. We must make then places of comfort to others and find our reward in the joy of giving and the satisfaction of healing the physical and mental ills of others.
FOOD FOR |
When mum saw that "The Garden of Eden", was being screened, she warned Tommy that he must not go as he would see what he shouldn't. Mum crept in after the lights were out and saw Tommy in the theatre. Next morning she scolded Tommy and finished with, "well did you see what you were not supposed to? "Too right," replied Tommy, "Dad was in the front row".
S T O P P R E S S
CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT SEIZE OUR MAGAZINES.
Persons receiving magazines from Europe have been issued with seizure notices.
This is a routine check on undesirable literature and it is unfortunate that
our literature is included.
Perc has discussed the whole position with the top man at Head Office in Wellington
and was assured they have nothing against us nor is there any thought of prosecuting
or obtaining publicity of any kind. We have a right of appeal and if you have received
a seizure notice, please appeal against this decision to the COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS,
AUCKLAND at once.
We do not regard our literature as indecent, we are members of the New Zealand movement and we do not intend to let the magazines in question out of the possession of ourselves or other approved members.
DO THIS NOW AND BE TRUTHFUL AND FRANK.
Perc has forwarded 6 copies of our magazines to the COMPTROLLER OF CUSTOMS WELLINGTON,
for official approval and has also requested that other magazines be made available
to recognised members. These requests will be strengthened if all clubs and as
many members as possible write in protesting at this seizure. They want to hear
our side of the argument so
here is your opportunity to help establish our movement more firmly and gain the
recognition it deserves.
DO THIS NOW AND BE COURTEOUS BUT FIRM.
Noted:-
Gerald Wakley: Nudism in N.Z. the Present and the Future; Editors
Norman of Kaurimu: Psychological Attitudes and Nudism