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 #  5 - March 1957 

[The National Review - Autumn] Editor: Stewart Ransom (Pages: 12 - 5/- per annum)

Contents:-

Editorial
A Future for Naturist Magazines
The Noble Tent (A tale told by Doug: first camp-out in Wellington's grounds)
Do You Just Belong
News from the Clubs (9)
Overseas News
National Organisation Kodachrome Films, Camping Facilities in Northland, H. and E. Report on National Rally, Three heads around a table (Stewart, Gerald, Perc), 1958 National Rally, Disapproved Publications, Immigrants
Letters to the Editor
Nudist Publications: Consultation and the agreement with the Department of Justice

Noted


Editorial

Nudist magazines, like every other publication, must have a popular appeal to obtain sufficient sales. Undoubtedly their popularity is mainly due to their "art studies" rather than to the public's interest in naturist activities and hence it is believed that the majority of casual purchasers are attracted by less desirable expectations. Nevertheless many of the articles may benefit some of these people, help to create a healthier attitude of mind and certainly persuade many to be active nudists. However the "art studies" are creating a general opinion that these magazines may be indecent, certainly have a doubtful value, and are most unsuitable for general distribution.

(Top)

A Future for Naturist Magazines.

The restrictions on their display and sale is there fore denying many an opportunity to widen their know ledge of a way of life which is physically and mentally more healthy. It is removing a valuable means of correcting public opinion about nudists and of creating a well informed understanding of the movement's ideals & activities. They have undoubtedly introduced many people to naturism and both the movement and the individuals have benefited thereby.

It's desirable that the magazines become more instructive and have an appeal through their articles rather than their illustrations. In a fashion similar to popular science or health magazines they could interest more desirable readers and more spurious purchasers would not find the "thrills" which apparently assures many of the present sales. Illustrations to support such articles would become more acceptable, generally.


(Top)

THE NOBLE
TENT.

History is made with the first camp at the Wellington Sun and Health Society's new grounds. A tale told by Doug.

The day broke fine and calm, just what a naturist likes most. At the appointed time I met Stewart and we headed North. On arriving at the club grounds we saw the caravan in which Norman had spent a weeks holiday, and we soon noticed a tan which proved he had experienced plenty of sun. The lawn had been cut so as to make the top plateau look more like Hyde Park in spring.


It did not take long to carry our gear up to the plateau but then the problem arose, where to put the tent. We finally decided on a spot where the tent could assist screening a possible view from a house up the valley. But with little effect. We hoped they were far enough away and not as inquisitive as they might be.


The tent was soon laid out, placing it so that my "mattress" did not contain too many stones and stumps. The poles were inserted in their slats and stood up in position. Pegs were quickly driven and then I looked around.


"Were are the ropes?"

"What ropes" enquired Norman

"The ropes to hold up the tent!"

"Oh. We haven't got any."

"Then how do we hold up the tent?"

"You could try fresh air. It ought to be fresh enough up here," was the helpful reply.

"You're out of date. The modern way is to use spit and Seccatine; faith and witchcraft," was contributed advice from elsewhere.


Fortunately I am a good scout, so a quick poke in my rucksack brought forth some rope and thick string. Thus the tent was held up, and apart from one piece of weak rope breaking twice, it stayed up. Then Norman wanted a cross-bar on the centre pole for his coat. Some quick lashing fixed that.


Once our gear was all stored in the tent I went across to the creek. On the way I saw the pile of dry grass Norman had cut, so my "David MacRae" for the night was settled, and very comfortable it was too.


This was the day for the special working bee on our other property before selling it. No other members had arrived by lla.m. so Stewart stayed behind to welcome a new couple while Norman and I drove North. Unfortunately Norman had a cold (tut, tut, it was fine all the week while he stayed at the site!) plus an injured foot, and as it was exceptionally hot, we stayed only a couple of hours cutting gorse before returning for lunch. It was so hot that I simply had to go into the creek for a swim to cool off. I had broken the ice for the season.


Just as we were finishing lunch the new couple arrived. Once introductions were over we four men began refilling, the pool excavation and completed the drainage ditch which takes the storm water from the hillside behind the plateau.


After darkness had fallen and our new couple had gone, Stewart turned in while Norman and I did some filling by the light of hurricane lamps. While busy we saw a light down at the bridge. Snoopers! We picked up our torches and went down to investigate. But with no results. After a little while of more filling we turned in.


My pillow was my rucksack and somehow a camera or something equally hard kept a small knob that I could not seem to shift and which kept me awake sometime. On top of the rucksack I dropped my shirt and singlet for greater comfort, but the snag ignored my effort,


A while after turning in I saw a flash of light. What was it? I cautiously lifted the tent edge in case the snoopers from the bridge were on the top plateau. I could not pick up any silhouettes, but I did notice all the stars had gone. While still waiting hopefully, there came another flash. Lightning! Drat! Then came a peal of thunder. Down went the flap of the tent and I turned over to get some much needed sleep.


But it was not to be just yet. A short time later came a pitter patter, ever so gently on my face. I pushed back the sleeping bag, and it was all over my face and arms. RAIN. Stewart's torch flipped on, and I followed suit while we both made a quick grab for the clothes we had left on the ground. Off went the torches and we slid well into the bags this time succeeding to get to sleep.


In the morning we were greeted by more rain, and a cold southerly. When it had stopped we arose and went down to the caravan for breakfast. More showers fell, but gradually became less until they stopped about midday.


"Norm, that is the first and last time I'm going to sleep in your tent. Have you ever waterproofed that tent?"

"No."

"And I bet you have been caught before and been wet."

"Yes."

"And by thunder, I'll bet my bottom dollar that when the rain started you rocked the caravan laughing at us getting damp."

"Too bloomin' right and I have only just so as to be reasonably polite to you."

Wouldn't it!


More work around the property took up the rest of the day, and we had a few extra members turn up to lend a hand. The tent was dry when we packed it, and our spirits were improving with the weather - we had made history in the Society's grounds, anyway.

.................

(Top)

DO YOU JUST BELONG?

Are you an active member,

The kind that would be missed,

Or are you just contented

That your name is on the list?

Do you attend the meetings

And mingle with the crowd,

Or do you stay at home

And crab both long and loud?

Do you ever go to visit

When the roads are wet and slick,

Or leave this only for the few

And talk about the clique?

There's quite a programme scheduled

That means success if done,

And it can be accomplished

With the help of everyone

Think this over, Member,

Are we right, or

Are we wrong?

Are you an active member?

Or - do you just belong?


(With Acknowledgements

to "Sunshine and Health".)

(Top)

NEWS FROM THE CLUBS...


Kaurimu Sun Club. (Members) Box 15 Glen Eden, Auckland.

Elsie, the Secretary, writes "Since our last report Eric has offered us the lease of 10 acres of his property at a nominal rent. This includes the pool and clubhouse which most of you know already. At a meeting of members, it was decided to accept his offer, and to incorporate the club. The wheels have been set in motion to achieve this, and we hope to finalise everything within the next few weeks. The club now functions as a member's club. We appreciate all that Eric has done in the past to start the Club and to keep it going and for his generosity in making the grounds available to us on such generous terms. We look forward to many more happy years with his help and advice.

We have now 24 adult members and 14 children. A satisfactory feature is the fact that we have several teenagers on our register. Visitors from other clubs are very welcome. Please drop us a line when you are in Auckland. Please note the change of address.


Auckland Sun Club. (Proprietory) Box 2925, Auckland.


Auckland Outdoor Health Club (Inc) (Members), Box 2702 Auckland.

Auckland is still basking in the tail end of the best summer in years, and we are only just finding it now a bit cold to be in uniform all the time.

The club has grown as a result of inter-club transfers and ordinary additions to membership, and we found ourselves in the position one day of having so many people out that our sports facilities were insufficient and we tried to play volley ball. We've decided that it would be less bother and less exhausting to clear more courts!

At present we're clearing a space for a car park, having got the drive metalled, and we are now waiting to get the material to make the bridge which will mean that we can get cars right into the middle of the site. Next job: lavatory and septic tank. Then a swimming pool. And in between whiles, we are clearing more land planting grass and also giving thought to what we are going to plant for screening purposes.

Our winter social programme got away to a good start with a discussion on "Is legal marriage necessary?". We decided it was; in the air for the next discussion is "Communism" - it it can't happen here". Those blasted Auckland politicians again!


Wanganui Sun Club (Members), Box 410 Wanganui.


Gisborne Sun Club. c/- Box 6359 Wellington.


Waikato Health Club. P.O. Box 32 Hamilton East.


Wellington Sun and Health Society (Inc.) (Members), Box 6359.

The half annual meeting was well attended as was also the first winter social. The latter was a film evening to farewell Doug who is attending the Scout Jamboree in Great Britain. He intends visiting a number of clubs in the U.K. during his stay.

Contractors are now digging our 45' x 20' pool, a Herculean task with rocks of huge dimensions. The spoil has improved the drive and is being used for filling. Plots are now ready for many of the trees soon to be planted but many more have still to be prepared.


Canterbury Sun and Health Club (Members) Box 1823, Christchurch.

The annual general meeting again elected Harold and Doris as President and Secretary, respectively. The raising of funds to build the swimming pool is an immediate headache but is being likely to be met from members loans. The Winter programme of socials is underway and promises to be excellent.


Otago Sun and Health Club (Members) Box 2058, South Dunedin.


..................


SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL is now due for many members. Please check.

(Top)

OVERSEAS NEWS.


Britain's nobility has come to the fore. It seems that His Grace, the Duke of Bedford, has displayed his interest in and sympathy for our movement by offering B.S.B.S., the use of his estate for the 6th. International Naturist Congress which is to be held in Great Britain in 1958, As this gentleman is a blood relation of her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, more than a mild rustle among England's critics may be expected. If the news is true, may we congratulate His Grace on this forthright stand for what he deems to be good and worthwhile.

(Top)

NATIONAL ORGANISATION.


Kodachrome Films.

As announced at the 4th. National Rally at Wanganui, although Perc. has been successful in making arrangements for the processing of these 8mm. colour in Australia, the Kodak Company is not happy about it. The manager has sent them over, but frankly, would rather not be put in the position he finds himself. As all other makes of colour film can be processed in N.Z. without difficulty, it is to be recommended that photographers bear this in mind.


Camping Facilities
in Northland.

Dick, one of our isolated members intends making his property available for nudists, calling it the Northern Nudist Park. It is on the East Coast, very isolated being a few miles off the main highway. Two crystal clear streams, plenty of space and excellent camping facilities makes it a very attractive holiday resort. Members who would like to visit the Park are requested to write care of National Office. The famous sub-tropical Northland should make this an ideal place for a nudist holiday.


H. and E. Report
on National Rally.

The editor of Health and Efficiency advises that the May issue will feature a report on our fifth National Rally. This should once again put New Zealand on the international map.


Three heads
round a table.

Gerald's visit to Wellington was an opportunity for he, Stewart and Perc to discuss national organisation problems. Clubs may soon be receiving Gerald's questionnaire by means of which it is hoped to learn their opinions about a national organisation, its activities and format.

The recent meeting with the Honourable Minister of Justice proved the value of having a Dominion wide association, even if still loosely knit, which could express its opinion through representatives. This consideration may help clubs to agree to meet national organisation expenses as well as to actively participate and express their opinions so guiding "the heads around the able".


1958 National Rally.

The dates of the sixth national rally to be held in Christchurch at the grounds of the Canterbury Sun and Health Club, will be the 1st., 2nd., and 3rd. of January. The Union Steamship Company are already pencilling in bookings for the Xmas-New Year period so members are recommended to do likewise.


Disapproved Publications.

The following publishing houses produce material that is not acceptable in this country and readers are recommended not to have any dealings with them.

Danopol, Copenhagen. Sweden. Gosta Oslow, Sweden. Hamburger Publishers Ltd., Western Germany. Olymp Publishing Co. Germany. Harsedstund Ltd. Synsby Denmark.


Immigrants.

We have a number of couples on our files who wish to emigrate to New Zealand and to join our clubs. It is necessary for approved accommodation to be available to them on arrival, as we11 as employment for the men. The latter is easy but if anyone anywhere can offer or suggest accommodation, will they please notify this office at once.


............


PITHY PARS.


"Do not be ashamed to say what you are not ashamed to think," Montague.


"Modesty is that feeling by which honourable shame acquires a valuable and lasting authority." Cicero.


"There is no happiness without liberty, but no liberty without courage." Pericles.


"An open mind leaves a chance for someone to drop a worthwhile thought in it." Anon.

(Top)

LETTERS
TO THE
EDITOR.

Sir,

At a meeting of the "Kaurimu" Club on April 28th, among other subjects, the paragraph in the National Review No. 4 relating to the statement made by "Eric" of the above Club was considered. All Club Members present agreed wholeheartedly with the basic principle that it is vitally important to our movement that all members live a decent life in, and outside the Club. They, however, deplored the fact that malicious rumours not supported by any facts seem to circulate about Eric and other members of the Club.

This they feel is not doing any good to our movement as a whole.

Yours, etc.

Jack, Chairman.

Elsie, Hon, Secretary.


Sir,

My sincere thanks for a11 the hospitality extended to me throughout New Zealand by the various members of the different Sun Clubs that I met during my 2½ month tour. That this hospitality was greater than that received from any other section of the New Zealand people I met is no exaggeration - I really felt at home in the various clubs that I visited - and I think it says a lot for the sincere atmosphere of the N.Z. Sun Clubs that this hospitality should have been extended so willingly to myself as a lone stranger, unknown to members before coming to their clubs: at the friendly invitation invariably waiting from the Secretary. Members took me out to show me their club grounds even when the weather was foul; they took me home for meals and even offered me a bed when I was visiting their city. The Sun Clubs and the Scenery of New Zealand are the two things which made my holiday tour really worth while, in fact, exceeding my expectations. To see the way clubs have grown and are accepted in the community, was an inspiration which could be good for many mere Australians to experience, and reflect upon. The movement is growing and clubs should never slacken their efforts to build up themselves and public acceptance of naturism as a sane and healthy way of recreation.

Yours etc.,

A visiting Australian Scientist.

(Top)

NUDIST PUBLICATIONS:
CONSULTATION AND
AGREEMENT WITH THE
DEPT. OF JUSTICE.

On Wednesday, 15th. May, Gerald, President of Auckland Outdoor Health Club, Stewart, President of Wellington Sun and Health Society, and Perc National Organiser spent some time with the Honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Marshall and some of his officers, discussing the position with regard to nudist magazines. The Movement has to thank the Minister and his officers for their cooperative suggestions, and we are happy to place on record the following agreements unanimously reached.

The preamble which outlines the reason for the agreement is printed in full so that the following is an exact copy of the official document.


Department of Justice,

WELLINGTON.

23rd May 1957.


Nudist Magazines and Publications.


1. The Customs Department have seized as indecent documents certain magazines sent through the post to various individual members of nudist clubs in New Zealand. Notices of protest have been served on the Customs Department by a number of the addressees under s. 256 of the Customs Act 1913.


2. By Statute three courses were open to the Customs Department:

(a) it could withdraw objection to the magazines and release them to the persons to whom they were sent;

(b) it could apply to the Magistrate under s.259 to have the magazines condemned;

(c) it could invite the Attorney-General to take over the proceedings and apply to the Supreme Court under s.257 for a decision upon the character of the magazines.

As it is desirable to get an authoritative decision as to whether magazines of this type are indecent the Attorney-General decided that he would take proceedings in the Supreme Court. Before commencing proceedings he wrote to Mr. P. W. Cousins of Wellington and Mr. G. Wakely of Auckland, leading representatives of the Nudist Clubs in New Zealand, to see whether some proper and satisfactory agreement could be reached with them about the magazines which have been seized.


3. As a result of discussions between Mr. Cousins, Mr. Wakely and Mr. S. Ransom of Wellington and the Minister of Justice in the first place, and in the second place between the three nudist leaders and the Department of Justice, agreement was reached as follows:-


MEMORANDUM OF HEADS OF AGREEMENT.


A. Objections to the seizure of the magazines by the Customs Department will be withdrawn.


B. The following English and Australian nudist publications will be admitted as before and may be sold in the shops provided discretion is used as to their display and sale. Action will be taken against a distributor if he is attempting to push sales among adolescents.

"HEALTH AND EFFICIENCY"

"HEALTH AND STRENGTH"

"SUNBATHING REVIEW"

"THE NATURIST"

"SUN REVIEW"

"SOLAR"


C. (i) The Government will admit into the country a limited number of approved American and Continental nudist magazines for the libraries of nudist clubs, provided the parcels are addressed to recognised nudist clubs.

(ii) A list of recognised clubs will be supplied to the Government.

(iii) A list of approved magazines will be agreed between the naturist representatives and the Justice and Customs Departments.

(iv) Each club may import three, copies of every number of any approved title.

(v) The following titles are approved subject to addition or deletion as agreed:-


"HELIOS" "AMERICAN NUDIST LEADER"
"SUN AND HEALTH" "SUNSHINE AND HEALTH"
"SONNENFREUND" "SUN TAN"
"LA VIE SOLIEL" "SUNBATHING FOR HEALTH"
"SUN" "DIE NEUE ZIET"

D. Members of nudist clubs of foreign nationality or origin shall be entitled to import direct by private subscription one copy of a naturist magazine from his or her country of origin. The Government will not interfere with importation in these circumstances except to establish the genuineness of any claim.


E. (1) As the decision whether a document is indecent or not is one for the Courts, both sides reserve the right to depart from the terms of this agreement at any time if a decision of the Courts should make such a step necessary.


(2) If any of the addressees of the nudist magazines persists in his objection to the seizure and his case is to be taken to the Courts, the Customs Department and the Department of Justice reserve the right to abandon the arrangement and submit every matter determined in it to the judgement of the Court.

.. .. .. .. .. ..

In addition the Customs Department agreed that 8mm movie film depicting club activities may be processed and/or imported but must be censored in N.Z. These films shall be for the exclusive use of clubs and shall be held by clubs or the National Organiser.


Any disregard of this agreement can well be the means of a prosecution and distributors, importers, resellers, members and others are earnestly requested to adhere strictly to the above arrangements. A court case could easily undo all that has been accomplished over the past few years. Clubs are requested to take any disciplinary action thought necessary or to refer the matter to this office immediately.


It was very apparent that the New Zealand Naturist Movement was was recognised to be fully acceptable to the Government and that its members were responsible persons who would recognise the need to restrict the indiscriminate circulation of many of the nudist magazines. It is with this in mind that the above agreement can make so few copies of some magazines available to the clubs. The best are still obtainable for sincere nudists and to provide interested members of the public with news and articles concerning nudist activities.


Members are invited to contact any of the representatives if they should require further information or clarification of points concerning these magazines.

 

Noted:-

Doug Cousins: The Noble Tent


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