#  56 - September 1970 

[The New Zealand Naturist] Editor: Joan Treanor (Pages: 48 - 30c)

Contents:-

Obituary: Ivan Mowlem
Space Family Enters Another Atmosphere
Naturist Holidays in Europe Part 2, by Jack AOHC
The Young Ones by Warren Cooke
The Romantic in the Cowshed
Random Ramblings
The Youth Section with Ross Eves
A.O.H.C. Twenty-one Years
Sex: An Abused Word, by Derek, Waikato
Health in the Sun
What Makes a Nudist?
Photography by Doug Cousins
News from the Clubs (7)
Letters to the Editor
Before the Cock Crows Twice
NZSA News - Addressing Mail, Free Beaches, Sun and Health, Perc Cousins Trust Fund, INF Pennants, Replies to Advertising
A Holiday in New Zealand
INF News - Spain, France, Germany, Luxemburg, Holland, USA
Club Directory: (16)

Noted


NEW ZEALAND'S ONLY NUDIST MAGAZINE

  the
new zealand
      naturist

Registered at the C.P.O., Wellington, as a magazine

 

NEW ZEALAND SUNBATHING ASSOCIATION INC. P.O. BOX 359 WELLINGTON, N.Z.
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY
MARCH, JUNE, SEPTEMBER, DECEMBER

 

A    VALUABLE    CONTRIBUTION    TOWARDS    A    BETTER    WORLD

 

THE N.Z. NATURIST

Editor in Chief

   

Joan Treanor

Business Manager

   

Doug. Cousins

Copy Preparation

   

Editorial Committee

Advertising Representative

   

Barry Hill

Editorial Office

   

P.O. Box 2925, Auckland

 

Cover picture by Arne Loot, A.O.H.C.

In our desire to present different points of view, we have published articles which do not necessarily represent the opinion of our editorial committee.


 

NEW ZEALAND SUNBATHING ASSOCIATION INC.

President

   

Gavin Robieson, Wellington

Vice-Presidents
 

   

Jock Shoolbread, Auckland
Jack Knowles, Auckland
Norman Bell, Napier

Secretary-Treasurer

   

Doug. Cousins, Wellington

Public Relations Officer

   

Dave Wells, Wellington

Youth Organiser

   

Ross Eves, Auckland

Women's Representative

   

Gaynor Robieson, Wellington

Overseas Correspondent

   

David Jenkinson, Wellington

Delegates representing all clubs

 

Enquiries regarding naturist clubs or any matters concerning naturism in New Zealand
or overseas should be made to the association at its office

NEW ZEALAND SUNBATHING ASSOCIATION Inc.

P.O. Box 359, Wellington 1, New Zealand

APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP OF CLUBS SHOULD BE MADE DIRECT TO THE CLUBS


 

FEEL FREE...

  The sun
Family in a club  
 

Free to swim and play in full contact with water and sunshine ... free to enjoy the company of like minded people ... free to sunbathe as you wish without fear of offending ... free to be naked end unashamed. Membership is not free of course but for a modest subscription you can enjoy the excellent amenities and good companionship of Wellington Sun Club.

For details write to:

The Secretary, Wellington Sun Club, Inc., P.O. Box 2854, Wellington.

 

 

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OBITUARY

Henry James Ivan Mowlem

 

Ivan Mowlem

It is with deep regret that we record the passing of yet another pioneer of the New Zealand Sunbathing movement - Ivan. founder and President of the Wanganui Sun Club Inc. A current Vice-President of the New Zealand Sunbathing Association Inc., and immediate past Acting-President of the N.Z.S.A., Ivan's heart began to fail rather suddenly during this year and his death came on Monday, 13th July, while he was resting in hospital preparatory to a heart valve operation. He was 72.

Ivan was born in Wanganui and lived there for practically his whole life. His working life was spent mainly as operator driving the Dune Hill Elevator, a lift travelling through a hillside, which was for many years the longest vertical ride in N.Z.

His interest in Nudism must have dated back prior to the second world war as his property over the years was expressly developed for privacy. This was obvious as the thick hedges enclosing the various lawns, orchard and house indicated an early desire to enjoy sunbathing in its truest sense.

For a period after the war ended in 1945, there was no Nudist Movement in N.Z. as we know it today. A few devotees of the cause isolated in the odd well-screened areas, represented the typical sunbathing activities of that time. One was Ivan, with his wife Nora, children and a friend formed his "Group" as he then called it. The only means of establishing communication with others of like interests in those days was through the magazine "Health and Efficiency" to which Ivan wrote, mainly to find out if there were other Nudists in the country and in Wanganui particularly. From that first approach through England, he sent a letter dated 28th April 1949 to another small group leader in another part of the country - Perc. Cousins - and from these small beginnings there began a long period of service and support for our cause.

As a result of suggestions from various people during 1952, efforts were made to hold a National gathering of Nudists in the country. Because the only reasonably central site suitable for the purpose was Ivan's home, Ivan and Nora gladly agreed to act as hosts and in mid-January 1953 the first National Rally was held. There were 38 members from N.Z. and one Australian present. The second, fourth, fifth and ninth rallies were held on what had by now become the grounds of the Wanganui Sun Club, but it soon became evident from the numbers attending that the grounds would be too small to continue holding rallies there. Facilities were badly strained and campers had to pitch tents in a neighbour's property. Ivan was both sad and delighted with this state of affairs. Sad because his home could no longer accommodate the increasing number of visitors, delighted the growth of the movement had made his grounds just too small.

At the fifth rally the late Mr Broad, a Wanganui bookseller sympathetic to our movement, visited the grounds and provided funds for an award to be made to the most popular boy and girl in the camp. After Mr Broad's death Ivan kindly offered to assume responsibility for this award and we have been happy to present the "Broad Award" at each subsequent Rally. We will continue this award, but it may be appropriate to rename it at this stage in memory of the man who was responsible for it for so long.

Whenever nudists met in large or small numbers you could be pretty certain that Ivan's smiling face would be amongst them. The Christchurch Rally of 1958 saw Ivan as a delegate in the committee that formed the N.Z.S.A. He was a member of the sub-committee that fully examined the proposed National constitution. He was chairman of the sub-committee on standardized rally procedures. The list is endless and it is apparent from his many services to the movement that his heart was always in the right place.

Like the other founders of our movement in giving as much as he did to ensure the enjoyment by you and me of the things he stood for, he suffered a great deal of personal ridicule from the public, but this did not blunt his ready welcome or deter his work for us. He altered his home so that members could enjoy a hall and other facilities. No man could do more.

The funeral service was held at the Wanganui Crematorium on July 15th. Members of the Wanganui Sun Club Inc., as well as representatives from neighbouring Clubs and the National Executive, were in attendance.

Ivan is survived by his five children.

Gavin Robieson,

NATIONAL PRESIDENT.


 

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SPACE FAMILY ENTERS ANOTHER ATMOSPHERE

or

HOW ANDROIDS BECAME HUMAN

by ROBOT DALEK

 

Robot Dalek

Although my dalek wife and I had slept "in the raw" (as humans say) and had basked in the light of the planets (in private) whenever possible, our computers had not been programmed to accept social nudism. About a year ago something in our computer banks must have slipped for we found ourselves ordering that great space-age magazine "The N.Z. Naturist". How our Great Social Master Mind - programmed as it is towards Victorianism - allowed this slip I don't know but allow it, it did.

For almost a year we fed Naturism to our computers and alarming changes in outlook began to take place. However, habit was much too strong, even yet, and it was not until our interstellar holiday over Christmas that our young robots (having carefully read all of our issues of the N.Z. Naturist) began a systematic brainwashing, e.g., "When are we going to join a Nudist Club?" "You're too frightened to join," etc., etc. Finally in a weak moment, our mechanical brains stopped working long enough for a promise to be made that we would join when we arrived home but even then we felt sure that there would be no real necessity to keep the promise, for young robots forget quite easily. Not in this case, however.

As the space capsule conveyed us to our ancestral planet the brain-washing continued and even in the bustle of re-installing ourselves the young robots' enthusiasm did not flag. By Thursday of that week I decided I could bear it no longer so, much to my consort's annoyance, elected to turn the knob labelled "Act Now." From the control room the following conversation could have been unscrambled:-

1st Voice: "Robot calling Secretary, A.S.C. Are you receiving me? Over."

2nd Voice: "Receiving you loud and clear. Over."

1st Voice: "Family interested in joining. Have heard there are some pretty queer monsters in your galaxy. Would appreciate some information. Over."

2nd Voice: "Pleased to have your family join. Many stories - mostly untrue - circulated about Sun Clubs. But see for yourselves! Our agents will have to interview you to observe suitability. Could arrange that quite quickly - tonight, tomorrow night or Saturday morning. Over."

1st Voice (Programming in Victorianism beginning to assert itself at last):

"Er ... Er ... all right. Over and out."

Upon emerging from the control room I duly conveyed this conversation - in teleprinted form - to my Lady dalek who practically blew a fuse. "Not ... not tonight, for the galaxy's sake! Nor tomorrow," she continued, using delaying tactics. "I've got to get over the holiday on Venus first." Rather annoyed (for after all I had plucked up enough courage to defy the Master Mind) I took one of our young robots and set off in the command module for the nearest (terrestrial) metropolis.

On my arrival home a distraught consort emerged shrieking, "Emergency! Emergency! They've ... they've been on our frequency already. A female agent wanted to beam down on us tonight. I told her you were on a mission."

"Oh Jupiter!" I replied.

"I've already indicated that I'll have nothing to do with this plan," she answered, "until my computers are back in ordinary working order."

Talk about a negative attitude!

Next morning the warning system began an insistent ululation which indicated that an alien wished to contact us. I rushed into the control room to hear a strange male voice announcing that Saturday morning would be convenient for their agents if we would prepare a space-pad for them.

I took my destiny in my hands and faintly gave the "O.K." fully aware that on re-emerging from the control-room I should have to face the (phaser) beams of an irate and implacable spouse. This time the whole switchboard blew up and it was only after re-installing many yards of fuse wire that conversation on the point could be resumed.

"Zero hour at 10.30 tomorrow morning," I announced flatly.

"Space monster!" sobbed my now subdued wife.

Diplomatic relations were not in any way restored until 10.15 the following morning when my better-half demanded a divorce.

"No time for that now," I stated. "Count down begins at exactly 10.20."

10, 9, 8, 7, 6. Another five minutes till their agents beamed in on us. What would they be like? Surely some queer beings from outer space! 5, 4, 3. It was worse than being interviewed for a job! My metal insides were attacked by a humanoid tummy rumblings. 2, 1, Zero. Blast On!!!

And, sure enough, emerging from the upper atmosphere was a blue V.W. capsule followed by a green Morris 1000 module. A second later out stepped three androids. Or were they androids? They looked just like us! They spoke like us too! But there was something about them, even at the distance of half-a-section, that was strange and yet fascinating.

"Aliens approaching!" warned our younger robot.

"Action stations! Red Alert!" I countered.

As the agents entered, the metal face of my consort managed to split into an approximation of a steely grin - though she carefully avoided exposing more than three aluminium teeth. Amidst some confusion and embarrassment from the robot family the strangers seated themselves.

"Now for the third degree," I thought.

But even an android can be mistaken. All that followed were a few simple questions with the last one -

"And now what would you like to know about our Sun Club?"

The aliens weren't bad creatures after all. But what was it that made them fascinating and different?

"We'd like to know all about the monsters who inhabit your planet," ventured my wife.

"And I want information concerning the orgies," I added.

The aliens burst into laughter.

"What ridiculous stories are spread about us," replied their leader. "But don't take our word for it! Come with us to the Club now and see for yourselves."

This suggestion I eagerly (but my wife somewhat reluctantly) agreed to and - in ten minutes flat - we were orbiting the isolated A.S.C. asteroid, still, I may add, in a state of apprehension. What terrors awaited us here?

As we approached the gate the three agents kept up the flow of conversation and suddenly I realised what it was that was different about them. They weren't androids at all! They were humans!

I had scarcely recovered from this shock when a second followed closely' on its heels - there on the other side of the vegetation screening the asteroid were several stark naked bodies, some basking in the light of the planet Sun and others engaged in various missions around the periphery of the station and all displaying a beautiful all-over tan.

"Could ... could we ever be like that?" I whispered.

"Of course," replied an alien. "All you have to do is to remove your outer coverings and you will be one of us in no time. However, this you must do voluntarily. No one will force you."

By this time we had approached a large rectangular hole filled with crystal-clear liquid.

"This is the swimming pool," announced one of our guides. "One of our few rules is that all coverings must be removed before entering."

I became quite aware that our young robots were in a state of high excitement.

"Come on, Dalek-Dad. Let's go for a swim," they yelled.

I looked again. Surely something was happening to them also. Yes! They were no longer robots. They were humanoids at the very least.

"It's so hot. Come on," they screamed.

We looked enquiringly at our guides. "That's quite in order," was their answer.

The youngsters' outer coverings came off, were folded neatly in a corner of the Clubhouse and gleaming white bodies were exposed to view. Once more I glanced in their direction. There was no trace of the robot now. These were human children who, for the first time, were able to live and play in complete freedom.

Was that all that was necessary to become human? Could older robots also undergo this transformation? I looked at my wife. Already a gentle glow was suffusing her hitherto metallic exterior. Almost certainly my own limbs had changed in appearance.

Full of trepidation we began divesting ourselves of our accoutrements. Strange thoughts and emotions filled our beings. We, also, were undergoing metamorphosis. As our last covering fell to the ground we stared at one another in amazement. Not only had we experienced human thoughts and emotions but we had assumed human shape in every detail. Why we even had - but I must be careful. There are still many robots around whose computers remain programmed to Victorianism so perhaps they won't understand if I change my phraseology - as I was saying, we even had - the apparatus necessary to reproduce the human species of which we had just become members. Strange what had lurked beneath our outer surface all these years!

Footnote: Since becoming members of the human race we robots have had three of the best months of our lives - in fact we reckon we have had a year's enjoyment already. Just a few of the advantages of membership are: Club members are amongst the friendliest people we have ever met; the hours of basking in the sun and the innumerable swims at the club have helped create that all-over tan; a wonderful weekend at a neighbouring island asteroid was a great experience; monthly swimming nights at the Interplanetary Heated Pool is an added attraction, not to mention winter visits to a Sauna bath. One final thought - a once-reluctant Mum is now the keenest member of our quartet.

 

 

AUCKLAND OUTDOOR HEALTH CLUB INC.

N.Z.'s LARGEST AND MOST PROGRESSIVE NUDIST CLUB

WE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
WE PREFER FAMILY GROUPS

But single men and women also accepted

     Drop a line NOW to our Secretary at

P.O. BOX 2702, AUCKLAND
for an application form and more information

 

 

(Top)

Naturist Holidays in Europe

by JACK, A.O.H.C. PART TWO

(Part I)

Montalivet had set so high a standard of facilities that we did not expect find anything quite so good elsewhere in France. Besides, it had been July in Montalivet and we did not arrive at Agde until early September, when the Continental nudist season was drawing to a close. We also had some bother in locating the CNIM (Centre Naturiste de la Mediteranée), just south of the town of Agde, since it was not well sign-posted. As it was, we drove around for a couple of hours trying to find the site. Eventually, we saw a sign indicating a naturist centre, drove along a winding road through the flat, marshy and uninviting country typical of this area and arrived at a completely different site, the Centre Hélio-Marin.

We discovered later that luck had taken us to the better camp of the two.

White the CNJM is pleasantly located on two hill-tops, those who stay there must travel by ear about 1½ miles to the beach. The CHM, on the other hand, runs right down to the Mediterranean and has its own nudist beach, about three-quarters of a mile long.

To enter either camp, a CFN passport is essential. Two people without one were turned away while we were registering. Fortunately having obtained a current pass at Montalivet, we were readily accepted and parked car and caravan in one of the many sites marked off by trees and shrubs. Here we spent ten delightful days. The temperature was getting cooler, and there were two or three heavy brief showers of rain, but the sun shone most of the time and the beach every day was crowded with couples and families of all ages enjoying the balmy waters of the Mediterranean and the relaxing warmth of white sands. Complete nudity is the norm in grounds and on the beach.

The site is flat and sandy running right up to the beach dunes; it is planted with pine and cypress and covers just over 70 acres. There are about 60 bungalows in long rows, as well as numerous camping and caravan spots in shady groves. A restaurant which serves excellent meals and has a well-stocked bar also supplies splendid 'plat cuisinés' or 'take-aways', not the Kiwi hamburgers, fish and chips, but a wide range of first-class French dishes. A large fully supplied super-mart, a small dance-hall-cum-night-club for the younger visitors, petrol-pumps, a small store on the beach selling refreshments and objets d'art, and two swimming-pools, one for children, are among the CHM facilities.

The camp has a large watch-tower, at the base of which showers and toilets are located. From the top, you can get a splendid view of the camp, its sports areas, the beach and the surrounding countryside. The toilets, Continental style, are well kept.

The CMH is owned by the Oltra brothers, who live on the property and who were constantly in view, ready to answer questions or listen to any complaint. One feature of the camp is that it bottles an excellent white wine of its own, under the label 'Centre Hélio-Marin'. The French are realists.

Because it was late in the season, there was not the terrific crush of numbers there had been at Montalivet, and the centre was not working at full pressure; the seasonal entertainments, for instance, had finished. But the whole atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. We encountered only two English couples. There were several Germans and Swiss, but the greater number were French, as companionable as all good nudists are and patient with our stilted French.

One advantage of the Agde sites is that they are only a few minutes away from such places as the historic town of Agde itself, with its winding streets, huge cathedral and ancient buildings, its busy markets and its placid little river, such popular beaches as the Cap d'Agde and such colourful resorts as the Grau d'Agde, with its cafés, breakwaters and lighthouse.

If Montalivet is the more spectacular site, the smaller compass of the CHM at Agde made it cosier, friendlier and with more of the club atmosphere Kiwis are used to.

The autumn was now well upon us, but we were determined to try Yugoslavia before the winter drew on. So early October saw us at Vsar, about 40 miles south of Trieste, on the Istrian peninsula, just across the Adriatic from Venice. First, let me make the point that the information in most nudist publications about Yugoslavia is hopelessly out of date. During the past three or four years, there have been spectacular developments in the facilities provided by the Yugoslav Government and private enterprise for European nudists. Until that time, facilities were primitive, to say the least, and some sites still remain undeveloped. We heard numerous horror stories of sites where one had to walk for miles, on Rab, for instance, of shadeless sites with no water or toilets, of rocky beaches, of islands reached only by long boat-trips and so forth. In many places, all this has changed. The Government, very much aware of tourist dollars, lira and deutschmarks, and conscious that Italian nudists are not allowed to practise naturism at home, has gone 'all out' to attract nudist visitors. The result is that, in the high summer, thousands of Italians, Dutch, Germans, Swiss and others, pour into Yugoslav nudist camps, drawn by the beautiful scenery, the excellent accommodation, the equable climate and the prices, the lowest of any European country where nudism is accepted.

Once nudism was confined to several of the hundreds of islands off the Yugoslav coast. Now a virtually endless chain of sites stretches down the Istrian peninsula and well beyond down the Dalmatian coast itself. Certainly, not far below Trieste, we began seeing signs in several languages drawing attention to nudist beaches, hotels and camps.

The one we chose, Koversada, is just south of the picturesque fishing village of Vsar. It is also known as 'Camp Anita' (the Naturist Association of Italy) and is generally regard as one of the finest sites in Europe. The grounds on the shore stretch over some 250 acres and take in also a large island 100 yards away, which was originally the only nudist camping-site at Vsar. On the sea- front at Vsar itself is a splendid hotel 'Panorama' with an annexe. Although nudity is not permitted at the hotel, and it is frequented by ordinary tourists, nudists using Camp Anita are given priority there. From the hotel it is about 3 minutes' drive to the camp proper. In the camp are many bungalows and chalets beautifully equipped and a sophisticated restaurant with an open-air terrace and a superb view of the grounds and the island. An elaborate supermarket, sports facilities, first-rate toilets and showers also exist, as well as banks of individual refrigerators which can be hired.

The Koversada grounds front the Adriatic on one side and on the other run through gentle slopes down to the waters of the Lim-ford so that two-thirds of the site adjoins water. There is plenty of shade and the views are exquisite, with some of the finest sunsets I have ever seen.

The camp was developed by Germans and shows their thoroughness in organisation. The Yugoslav shores consist mainly of sharp, white rock, very hard on the feet. The developers have poured concrete between the rocks, so as to make it negotiable and to leave ample sun-bathing space. They have also built an artificial beach with groins and imported sand, so that you have the best of both worlds.

It was delightful to spend a lazy fortnight in the nude on the foreshore or on the island, which can be reached by swimming or by a small boat. So high is the temperature of the Adriatic that we were still swimming in it daily in mid-October when most of Europe was shivering with the cold. And from Vsar we were able to visit the many charming villages north and south of the site. We were too content at Koversada to venture far, but all we saw of the country convinced us that Yugoslavia is one of the most picturesque of lands and the people kindly and gracious. There were hardly any English speakers around at all, but we were able to make ourselves understood through Italian, which is widely spoken in this area.

The fortnight at Koversada passed all too quickly, in lovely surroundings and peace of mind and body. We said good-bye to the camp in the fervent hope that we should one day return to this friendly spot. Of the four sites at which we had stayed in England, France and Yugoslavia, Koversada was the most charming, although not one of them did not offer its own special joys and leave us with warm memories of Continental nudism.

 

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THE YOUNG ONES     By WARREN J. COOKE

On putting these thoughts to paper my sole concern is the link between undue secrecy and the drain of youth from the movement in general.

The fact is that apart from the young children, too few youthful people appear nowadays. Neither the bigger children nor the teenage group seem to want to come.

Family naturism is wavering in the wind at our club and I often wonder if the attitude of parents as to where life takes them come sunny weekends, helps develop an unfavourable attitude in the minds of their grown-up children.

Perhaps there is some well-founded reason why parents shroud their naturist interests with secrecy but the result on young people is the same.

It saddens me to hear of those children who must live a lie to their friends. Their weekends are never spoken of at school nor do they dare reveal why they are tanned all over their bodies. It's not long before they're asking themselves: why can't I explain it to my friends? Why are my parents afraid of saying they are nudists? Is there something wrong and guilty about it all? Besides what pleasure do I personally get out of all this nudist business?

These sort of questions must be answered. Or will parents continue to disappoint themselves trying to convince young people that their motive lies in health and righteousness?

if on the other hand parents never make a secret of their membership this youth problem doesn't necessarily arise. When the family and close circle of friends are in the know then the matter is above board. More often than not you'll find once the cat is out of the bag it, doesn't turn out so disastrously as you might have imagined it would.

We can be thankful to those who don't conceal their membership. If only all of us would admit our membership openly then others would take a different view of nudism. We would then make it easier for children ad young people to remain faithful to the club and construct a strong foundation for our ideas.

Now: buy us ice creams!

You said if you lost our game of follow the leader you'd buy us all ice creams!

 

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The Romantic in the Cowshed

By Kevin, N.S.S.

Watching the average New Zealand farmer sloshing around in his muck-splattered size l5s or hanging over a rail at the saleyard sorting out the country's troubles with his mates, it comes as something of a shock to find he is an incurable romantic. That is the conclusion I came to after meeting various farmers during Northern Sun Seekers' search for grounds. Every farmer we met had some little spot, in most cases a bush-clad valley, of which he was particularly fond and which he believed would make perfect grounds for our club. Our advertisements had not contained a great deal of information on our needs, but all the farmers we met seemed to know exactly what we wanted and went to no end of trouble to show us around and chat about the movement with us.

There was one chap with a large property who used to go out on horseback in the bush rounding up stock. There were beautiful little grassy spots through

the bush, he said, which would make ideal sunbathing spots. You could sit there and listen to the creek and the birds; miles from anywhere, he enthused.

But the news that the property was 200-odd acres and the price a five-figure one soon dispelled any dreams that may have been forming in our minds. The most memorable character was a young farmer with a property fairly close to Whangarei. Here I must interpose with a warning to any group looking for grounds; beware of lean young farmers, especially if your idea of healthy exercise is one game of volley-ball a week. This bloke was busy when Alan and I called on him, but directed us to a spot half a mile down the road and a short distance onto the property. We went along and had a look, but it wasn't quite what we wanted. The farmer arrived moments later and said he'd show his favourite spot. Off we went, Alan and I breaking into a run every few yards to keep up with the farmer's steady lope.

We stopped half a mile away and our guide pointed out the spot. It was the best part of a mile away, almost vertically downhill through scrub and bush. I was completely exhausted when we got to the bottom. Whenever we stopped for a few seconds to look at another beautiful little spot my glasses misted over; when we started again they slid down my sweaty nose. Alan keeps himself very fit but in my anguish I noticed that he was becoming very red about the neck. The river was everything the farmer said it was but you'd need the agility of mountain goats to get there and back.

Then came one of the worst moments in my life - we started back uphill. Four times I had to ask the others to stop for a breather, and when we got to the top I flopped flat on my back while Alan and the farmer trotted off along a spur to have a look at the view. Completely mad, the pair of them. Then followed a brisk trot back to the car - the farmer stopping to look for rabbits on the way. Alan looked in almost as bad a state as I felt when we said goodbye to the farmer, who streaked off on his half-mile hike back to the house.

As for us, we drove straight back to town, made a beeline for a pub, and dived gleefully into a foaming jug of icy cold beer. I've never enjoyed a glass more before or since.

When the next offer of land came in I checked up on the farmer first. It turned out that he had a married family and was in poor health. Good, this was more like it. We travelled in style on the back of a tractor and saw a charming valley lined with native bush. At the bottom was a crystal-clear creek with a couple of large pools capable of being turned into swimming pools. There was one catch though - no flat ground. Reluctantly we crossed it - off the list and turned to the last property offered.

None of us were very interested in it, mainly because it was further from town than any of the others and a lengthy stretch of metalled road had to be traversed.

However, the man had written to us and it was only polite to visit him. I took my family out - we would make it a picnic trip so that the day would not be a complete loss. This then was the state of our minds as we followed the farmer over a track winding what seemed to be miles onto the property. We had to walk the last 100 yards, turning into a small valley. We stopped astonished. It was perfect; just what we had hoped for but never expected to find.

The farmer and his wife explained that they had always treasured this little valley. They had planned to do something with it themselves but there had been more pressing duties elsewhere.

"I've spent quite a lot of time up this way," Bob confided, "cleaning out the drains. It was a darned shame really" (a shy glance here, to see if I was going to laugh at him), "because where the creek used to tumble over old logs it seemed to talk to you." I knew exactly how he felt. "But I haven't done this valley yet," he said.

The rest is history. A meeting unanimously decided to take the grounds and we are now hard at work developing them.

It's a restful place. We've seen trout a foot long, watched pheasants and quail wandering about and the children have caught the odd eel and freshwater crayfish. Native bush comes right down to the creek, which is lined with dainty ferns.

And although it sounds silly, the creek DOES talk to you.

 


DEADLINE for Editorial copy for December issue: 26th October


 

Competition results

 

COMPETITION

RESULTS

No. 54: "About to turn a cartwheel." Sender: B. E. McKee, non-club member, Auckland.

 

No. 55: "Strangling a Peeping Tom."

Sender: Simon T., non-club member, Westport.

 

 

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RANDOM RAMBLINGS

I have been invited to write something for the New Zealand Naturist. I do so with trepidation, on the grounds that I am not of sufficiently long standing in the movement to contribute anything that has not been said in the magazine on many previous occasions. The response to this was to the effect that as I am neither a very old member nor an out-and-out new chum - just in the middle bracket, as it were - I could perhaps view the naturist movement from a fresh standpoint. So for what they are worth, here are some of my impressions...

First: The reactions of the non-nudists. These can, I think, be divided roughly into four classes - (a) The open-minded people ... "We don't know anything about naturist clubs, but we are willing to be enlightened on the subject"; OR: "We have some friends and relatives as members of such clubs, and though we ourselves are not in the movement, we have nothing against it, and we are certainly not antagonistic."

(b) The benevolent critics. "Queer people, old chap; but harmless, I suppose. If they choose to prance round with nothing on, that's their look-out; but it's not my cup of tea, thank you!" OR: "Ooh! The silly asses will freeze to death in our New Zealand climate!" OR: "I'm sure everything is above-board, but what do they do all day? If they are not playing tennis, or golf, or bowls, what are they doing?"

(c) The prudes. "It is rude, my child - and even wicked and sinful - to expose your body for all to see." OR: "What are the beaches coming to, Agatha? Just look at that little girl swimming - she must be quite 8 years old and she is not wearing a top to her bathing suit! And oh! Good heavens! Her little brother has nothing on at all! What dreadful parents nowadays. I shall certainly make a strong complaint to the authorities."

While on the prudery aspect, it is noteworthy that native races in various remote parts of the world, blissfully oblivious of their nudity, have been compelled by well-meaning but misguided missionaries to wear unshapely cotton garments. They swam in these hideous contraptions, left them on wet, with the result that many of them contracted pneumonia. Similarly, the aborigines on the mission stations of northern Australia are ordered to wear clothing. It is significant that when they depart for a period on "Walkabout", they hurl away their dresses and shorts, and return to a state of nature. I read recently that a man in U.S.A., merely for a harmless and amusing practical joke, started a society for the clothing of naked animals. He was astounded at the applications for membership that poured in from people who had always been seriously perturbed that the farm animals, as well as their own pet dogs and cats, were unclothed in full view of the public... Silly? Of course it is; yet it was stated as fact and not fiction. If so, it exemplifies a certain pitiable type of warped mind. Psychiatric treatment is indicated here.

(d) The not-so-benevolent critics. These individuals are more dangerous than the merely prudish. They are censorious, prurient-minded, and ever on the alert for evil motives. We are perhaps justified in suspecting that there is more than a little secret envy in their strictures - Honi soit qui mal y pense - "Nudist colonies? Oh, my dear, such dreadful going on, you'd never believe! Just the other day I was told on good authority by a friend of a friend who had heard it from her husband's sister's daughter-in-law that there is a secret club away out in the bush somewhere where the most shocking orgies are indulged in every weekend! And this only a few miles from our city. What are the police doing to stamp out this vice in our midst? Nothing at all." OR: "Be careful of that bloke Mr So-and-so down the road from your place, old fellow. He's a nudist. Easy to pick it by the sinister look in his face. Warn your wife what she can expect if he comes near your house on occasions when you are away from home. Tell her to ring 111 immediately, and a patrol car will soon attend to that type of sex maniac."

Prob'ably people in Classes (a) and (b) are worth cultivating. These worthy citizens are potential members of a naturist club if approached tactfully. Classes (c) and (d) we can afford to ignore with cheerful disdain. No use trying to combat their perverted point of view. Time alone will deal with it. Signs are not lacking that a more broad-minded and tolerant attitude is gradually prevailing in all civilised communities. A younger generation, impatient with outworn shibboleths, is in process of taking over.

In these days of the mini-skirt and the abbreviated bathing costumes, screams of mirth would greet an old resurrected pre-War I film depicting goggle-eyed men staring at the 'Can-Can' chorus girls with their many layers of frilly underwear exposed to view (shockingly daring in those days). And we oldsters can recall the sight of men stock-still on the footpath, waiting patiently for a glimpse of ankles, or even legs if lucky, as the long-skirted females reached to the top step of a tram. Thank goodness those days are gone for ever ... Or have they? Will the mini-skirt be replaced by the maxi-skirt down to the ground? I, a mere male, predict somewhat cynically that the fashion dictators will decree this before very long.

It cannot be denied that the lure of sex will always be with us. It is nature's way of increasing the species. Yet so long as clothing exists, there will be outlets in undesirable ways. For instance we cannot ignore the fact that there are strip-tease shows; 'peeping Toms'; sniggers at inadvertently exposed portions of the body; sensational sexy head-lines on the bill-boards of certain weekly papers; crowds gathering to gawk at 'topless' or 'see-through.' Only complete nudity can eliminate these silly things. I am not advocating nudity in Queen Street, Auckland, or Lambton Quay, Wellington. There is a time and place for everything. But I cannot visualise a male nudist club member eagerly running a mile in order to stare at a topless waitress - can you, reader?

Finally, let us endeavour to answer the remark propounded by the mythical inquirer in (a) above, where he desires to be enlightened on the subject of naturism: ... Any broad-minded stranger on visiting a club or a 'free beach' cannot help being impressed by the complete absence of morbid curiosity displayed by the members. Everything is there for them to see: consequently it is all taken for granted and not even thought about. The visitor will see merely a miscellaneous collection of human bodies - tall, short, fat, lean; shapely and graceful - or less so; beautiful or not so beautiful; hefty, manly and virile - or wiry and skinny; elderly, middle-aged, teen-agers, older children, small children, and babies. All these varieties romp or roam about in happy and friendly companionship. There is no clothing to make them fashion-conscious: no inclination to 'keep up with the Joneses'. Once inside the grounds of such a club, a pauper and his wife can converse on equal terms with the wealthiest couple in the land.

Because the wolf whistle or the blatant ogle is missing, does this imply that naturists are peculiar and different in some mysterious fashion from ordinary folk In short, that they are sexless creatures? Not at all. Physically they are precisely the same as the clothed men and women. But "sex" to them is entirely a private and personal matter and not brought into club precincts. During my comparatively short term as a club member, I have never observed on club grounds or premises a particle of evidence relating to the blatant display of sex. It has been merely friendly and platonic mingling of the sexes in games, swims, luncheon groups, discussions, working parties, children's entertainment, and so on.

"What! No strip-tease shows? No orgies? No fun of that nature at all?"

No, my friend. Sorry to disappoint you. You'll have to go elsewhere for that type of entertainment. We naturists are in agreement with the Scottish poet, who said:

Loveliness

Needs not the foreign aid of adornment,

But is when unadorned, adorned the most.

F.M.P.

Kowhai Valley Club Incorp.

 

LIVE IN SUNNY HAWKES BAY? --- INTERESTED IN JOINING A CLUB?

 

IF YOU ANSWER YES TO THESE QUESTIONS

THE

HAWKES   BAY   SUN   CLUB   INC.

--    WILL WELCOME YOUR INQUIRY    --

Club grounds (10 acres) owned and operated by members for members - easy to get at on good roads - facilities include clubhouse and all needs for day or overnight stays - children's play equipment games courts - small pool - large lawn areas. If you are interested, why not join. N.Z.'s largest club outside the main centres.

HAWKES     BAY     SUN     CLUB     INC.

P.O. Box 551 NAPIER Phone 37-692

 

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THE YOUTH SECTION

with ROSS EVES

Hi there, teenagers and young people. Here I am again with this unenviable task of writing, and, believe me, for a construction worker this is no mean feat. Still they say that anything is better than nothing... maybe...

To those six people who wrote to me in the last three months, thank you for your comments, especially the gentleman who sympathised with me regarding the lack of interest in youth groups generally. Maybe this short excerpt from a letter received may give you some ideas on looking after the younger members of your club.

Youth groups should be encouraged to help in the administration of their club. A few ways they can help is by organising projects such as building a children's play area with a sand pit, and swings made from car tyres hanging from a tree. For more ideas visit your local kindergarten to see how to make something from nothing.

Now, to a more important topic, the forthcoming Youth Rally. As you know from the last magazine, Wanganui had to stand down on their offer to let the Youth Rally be held at their grounds. This was due to unforeseen circumstances, beyond their control. However, the Hawkes Bay Sun Club has invited us to use their grounds instead.

I had a very enjoyable Queens Birthday Weekend when my wife and I accepted an invitation to stay with the Treasurer of the Hawkes Bay Sun Club. We left Auckland at 4 a.m. on Saturday morning to travel through rain, fog, hail and ice only to arrive at Napier about 10 a.m. and find the Bay bathed in beautiful sunshine, which I am told is one of their main attractions.

Throughout the weekend we were taken to see other sites which are all being considered for the Youth Rally. On the Sunday we were taken out to see the club grounds. They have good all round facilities for both camping and sport of several varieties. It has been suggested that the youth would rather cook their own meals at their rally. Any thoughts on the subject? The clubhouse sports two electric stoves, so start practising at home.

There will be more about the rally in club newsletters.


 

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A.O.H.C. Twenty-One Years

 

On Sunday afternoon, August 28th, 1949, a group of twelve enthusiasts met together in a cabin on a property near Oratia and decided that a club be formed. The name was to be "The Auckland Outdoor Health Club" and in the constitution which was adopted the objects were set down as "... the practice of social nudism and sunbathing" and "To spread the gospel of Naturism..." The new Club was offered the use of the grounds on a temporary basis until their own site could be purchased.

Among the founding members was Eric Flint, owner of a property nearby which he had made available to those interested in practising nudism. Eric was, however, convinced that committees "keep minutes and waste hours" and the following meeting of the committee of the newly formed club received his resignation.

During the following three years a small area was cleared in the bush and a clubhouse built, and regularly every summer an attempt was made to dam the stream permanently for a swimming pool as regularly every winter it was swept away. In 1952 the club celebrated its third birthday with a party tea, and a cake decorated with four nude figures around a teniquoit net.

A.O.H.C. was conceived as a members' club but their grounds were privately owned, and the club became concerned about their tenure of the property which meanwhile had been bought by another member. Consequently they approached Eric about the lease of part of his property and moved downstream in 1953 to develop new grounds adjacent to those of Eric's Kaurimu Club.

Rumour has it that the real reason for the break away may have been a woman screaming at her children. The other members could not stand the sound of her voice and decided to move. However, if the move was made because the Club could not obtain a written lease, in the event, Eric did not provide one either, but he did return the rental paid.

Membership was then approaching 50 and the fee for a married couple was 30/-. Active membership was very much less than this, and two families together with the owner of the land stayed on at the old site and later formed themselves into the Auckland Sun Club. The Club also discarded a long list of regulations restricting behaviour, and the True Believer's "Gospel of Nudism" was replaced by a commonsense approach to nudism as recreation.

Club house, Eric's place 1954

Club House, Eric's Place, 1954

At Eric's the handful of keen members established a small clearing at the top of a hill. It was just big enough for a very rough games court, but no-one can recall ever playing games on it. A clubhouse was made of tree trunks and manuka bundles and resembled the Witchetty Tribe hut. It was used to keep a few tools and other assets, one of which was the green enamel teapot which survives to the present day. There are few members who have not had a cup of tea from this old pot.

Cars were not as plentiful as they are today and members were all willing to give a lift to those without transport. One of the first requirements was water and for some forgotten reason it was decided to put down a post hole bore for a well on the top of the hill. Water was found at 20ft. but the members never succeeded in drawing more than a few pints to the top of the shaft.

This quest for water led on to further development. Some of the men crashed their way down to the creek below the clearing and then work started all over again. A log fence was constructed along the stream bank and about 40 yards of earth shifted down behind this to form a new games court, and the area grassed. The stream was dammed by river boulders and logs and the leaks stopped with clay forming a narrow pool about four feet deep - and was it cold! A clubhouse was built with four logs as corner posts and walls were to be of hand-packed mud, but this proved too difficult and normal framing was then finished off with windows from a church that was being demolished. These materials had all to be carried by hand down from the road.

The following summer in January 1955 the Third National Rally was hosted jointly by the two clubs and was attended by 56 adults, all but about three from the Auckland clubs. The two clubs decided to bring in the National Press for the first time and invited reporters from the "Herald" and "Star," and with no little trepidation, from "Truth." In the event the best write-up appeared in "Truth" and this publicity led to the advertising columns in the papers being opened to the clubs after a ban lasting some years.

Later in the summer a bridge was built over the stream and an area cleared at a higher level on the far side, but this work was never completed. As the Club grew the members sought ownership of a suitable piece of land and after looking at a great many properties at last located the present property of 26 acres in April 1956.

In anticipation of the Club owning its own grounds the subscription had been raised to £6.l0.0 a year in 1954, and Incorporation had been carried out in March 1955. Debentures were now issued to raise the £600 deposit on the property, and Hans agreed to act as Guarantor for a mortgage of £2000.

Work started again. A track was cut from the gate through the blackberries and gorse to the creek near the present barbecue area. A tent was erected to house the tools, and somehow was never taken down. The pegs are in the ground still! Clearing began in earnest and reached the top of the hill by the summer. A start was made on the road which was brought across a culvert to the edge of the stream, a cabin was erected by Hans at the top of the clearing and a new fence was erected along the west boundary.

The following year saw a solid concrete bridge reinforced by 5 railway lines across the creek and the luxury of city water in a ½" plastic pipe for a shower and a cup of tea. The main flat area had also been discovered from the top of a tree. It was covered with thick gorse and wattle, and weekend after weekend the members cut and burnt and grubbed roots. The new clearing was eventually rotary-hoed and grassed, then a small pool dug and concreted with blocks above the ground level to make it deep enough for swimming. These have now been removed to leave the children's splash pool. Three buildings were erected in "Bach Row" - now "Whittington Way" - by members, and the present lay-out of the grounds was established with the grading of the road. Another undertaking was the septic tank. A large hole was dug 8ft. deep by hand, but because of lack of funds was never concreted and eventually became a rubbish tip. About this time "Old Dick" built a shack in the paddock and moved in to live on the grounds, later building the small house which now serves as Committee Rooms. His tractor proved invaluable for work on the grounds, pulling out tree stumps and grading the road.

Club house, Eric's place 1954

First Ablutions Block, Oranui, 1958

In 1957 it was decided that members should be able to refer to something other than "The Club" and the property was named "Oranui". A clubhouse had long been an ambition and was now essential and members demolished a foundry in Te Papapa to obtain materials. The large wooden trusses were stored near the bridge but a thunder storm flooded the area and these trusses were subsequently recovered near the railway lines about a mile away. The first stage of the clubhouse was completed in 1959 in time for the 8th National Rally held on the grounds. Electric power had also been provided by then, and the underground cable to the clubhouse was completed by the first visitors to the Rally. An interview recorded during the Rally was broadcast in "Feminine Viewpoint", and this provoked a critical letter in the "Listener." 

Club house, Eric's place 1954

Pool Construction, Oranui, 1958

On January 31st 1960 an "Open Day" attracted 23 visitors, many of whom later joined the Club. This was the first time that visitors had been invited to the grounds without an interview. The Club's finances were now exhausted and the only further development that year involving expenditure was the purchase of the first 50 bamboo plants for the boundary hedge which was planted in October 1960.

From the early days of A.O.H.C. teniquoits has been the popular game but with the development of the new lawn at Oranui handball held sway for a season. This game had almost no rules and as injuries mounted, first the ladies retired and then volleyball was established in 1961 and soon won as strong a following as in any American club. During this winter season the old games of horseshoes and quoits with heavy steel rings were introduced but they were never subsequently revived. The last three seasons have, however, seen increasing support for miniten, adopted from the English Clubs and it is now a serious challenge to volleyball.

Swimming, of course, is the ideal activity for nudists, and only chronic financial difficulties held up the construction of a large pool. In 1963 it was decided to impose a levy of £10 on all members and excavation of the pool began. The 50' x 30' filtered and tiled pool was officially opened in December the following year, unfortunately in pouring rain. The water supply was renewed with 1¼" galvanised pipes in 1965, and in 1966 the sundeck surrounding the pool was built to house the new ablution block with flush toilets and thermostatically controlled showers. The clubhouse was also completed that year in readiness for the National Rally again held at Oranui in January 1967. For this occasion the clubhouse also grew an office wing leading on to a canteen, but this addition did not have County approval and had to be torn down. The original cabin on the grounds had been converted to a wash house and was moved to the rear of the clubhouse. Meanwhile a large camping area had been developed largely by one man and this is now known as Arthur's Park. It provides space necessary for the many visitors.

Play equipment for the children had been built up over the years, starting with a chain swing in a wattle tree, together with a painted packing case and progressing through a wooden see-saw to the professionally built items of today. The problem of a fence around the swimming pool to protect the toddlers was finally solved by a low fence around an area for families with young children, thus leaving the pool surrounds open.

Over the last few years A.O.H.C. has seen another period of financial consolidation, with repayment of loans. The Club was again host to the National Rally this year and preparation included completing the roading to form a loop around the main lawn, and providing power outlets for many caravan sites, along with further clearing of wattle and gorse. Planting of shrubs has greatly improved the general appearance of the grounds in spite of a marauding mob of hungry cattle which made a sustained effort to eat everything to the ground last winter.

Throughout its history A.O.H.C. has maintained members' interest in the winter months by social activities ranging from the many discussion evenings of early years to fancy dress parties, Square Dances and film shows. Friendliness on the grounds was fostered by a tradition of everyone eating lunch together around one long table, and new members were introduced to everyone present, but of course these customs eventually became impracticable. An Annual Picnic to a free beach was inaugurated in 1964 and continued for 5 years but attendance fell off with many feeling that Oranui was just as attractive and easier to reach. In 1966 a Local Rally was introduced to give the local clubs an opportunity to sports competition. This event has proved increasingly popular each year.

While members come and go over the years two of the 12 founding members are still with A.O.H.C., Eric Flint having returned as an Honorary Member when he ceased to run the Kaurimu Club last year. Another member who joined just two weeks after the inaugural meeting and perhaps a dozen others who joined before the move to Oranui was made, are still active in the Club.

With the continuing good publicity following the first Rally in Auckland and the advent of the permissive society, A.O.H.C. has found it very much easier to find new members. Improved amenities and resources to reduce the need for voluntary labour for development, have helped also, and the membership now stands at more than 300 adults with a like number of children. The Club no longer has to fight for survival, but is an accepted part of the community and looks forward to continued development in its second score of years.

Club house, Eric's place 1954

Photo: Arne Loot     

Rally, 1970

 

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SEX: AN ABUSED WORD

One phrase in an article titled "Nudity and Pornography" in issue no. 53 needs clarification. Generally, this essay was a fair assessment and booster on nudism's behalf. One sentence, however, is quite misleading, viz: "take away the clothes so that everything is revealed and sex is no longer involved."

On the contrary, sex would be involved, whether it be behind bedroom doors or within the confines of a sun club. Sex is a state of maleness or femaleness and no matter to what degree or in what fashion we may clothe ourselves, the identity of either one is hardly obscure. Even the poorly adjusted transvestite is sadly astray in his efforts at mimicry.

A mysterious rapport flows between and binds the two sexes so that the ballroom floor, the bridge table, the tennis club's tea room, the surgery waiting room or whatever, all allow impressions and emotional activity to be stirred up within the bisexual environment. Our nudist clubs are not exempt from this social intercourse which involves sexual responses. "Sun and Health" contributors have been on this theme recently (nos. t2 and t5) and I may say that if nudists don't respond normally to the presence of members of the other sex, then we are a weird mob.

Somewhere along the evolutionary line we have been gifted with heterosexual responses and the bodies to undertake such responses after appropriate stimulation. This latter may be visual, verbal, olfactory, by touch, or by other more subtle means, perhaps a combination of these.

Our present naturist activities could well be restricted by club policies. Is the harmless play of infancy and pre-adolescence mostly frowned on when practised at older age levels? Who may touch who? Can a pick-a-back race be a platonic association or the husky man's hand for the limbs of the girl about to mount the club's pony or indulge in tree-climbing? Do we police quiet areas of our grounds?

Let's get on with living sanely, as we were intended to function. Chat with each other and be honest in our discussion. All individuals should be given opportunities to speak frankly on a wide range of topics and please, adults, don't rush in with damn criticism of junior's views. We want to get away from the taboos thrust on us by society and we are supposed to support the ideal of Truth surely.

Physiological research teaches us another relevant fact. There is in each of us a complement of male and female factors which are seldom in balance for our sex is clearly established in most cases. Even so we can distinguish types within the sexes: the thick-skinned Ena Sharples ogress; the daintiest of dryads; the brawny, tan-chested farmer; or the Nureyevs of this world. Within us runs a stream of chemical messengers which accumulate, disperse, and travel to limbs, brain, glands, tissues, or some inconspicuous cell, there to create a change, a response. Some of these are potent. Some work without seeming to rival their actions. They work, however, to give us our male and female attitudes, reactions and conditions - let's be thankful.

Children can teach us more in the matter of breaking down mistrust and hypocrisy than we can teach them. Their curiosity is naive, wonderfully so, and they show it frankly. If we could approach our problems with their candour and debate, read, and exchange ideas between each other, what a real club atmosphere could develop. The medical, psychiatric, sexological, sociological and related texts could and should supplement our nudist literature and we must reveal our ideas as well as our bodies. Sex is with us, part of us, interacting among us - don't let the nudist movement let it be stifled or contaminated in any way.

Derek,

   Waikato.


"When one thinks of the speed with which spiteful remarks are conveyed on this sort of grapevine, it seems a pity that there isn't more effort to relay pleasing and flattering comments."

- Janet Graham

 

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HEALTH IN THE SUN

It is waterproof yet elastic. It has a smooth, soft, pliable surface with folds and ridges. It is equipped with devices to sense and transmit information on temperature, sensations, and changes immediately surrounding it. It can register and trigger alarms of impending danger. It protects, regulates and maintains. It controls the despatch of oils and fats.

What is this that has this and more functions?

Why our skin, of course! Easily the largest organ in the human body yet taken so much for granted by us in our day by day existence.

How many of us spend hours cleaning and polishing the car until it gleams? How proud we are when neighbours remark, "She looks beaut. now," and we reply, "Well, it's the maintenance that counts!" Yet our own outside finish is subjected to the most abuse one can think of, and no ten year guarantee. How often is it plunged into chemicals, solvents and exposed to the influence of all the disease that surrounds us.

Remember this! Our skin is complex in structure and is a vital organ in that some of its functions are essential for the maintenance of life.

SEX EDUCATION

Sex education is the orphan subject both in public and private schools in New Zealand. The general neglect of education in the home, as in the schools, is perhaps more serious than any other educational neglect.

Sexual curiosity awakens very early in thc growing child, and when it is not satisfied or has been discouraged in one form or another, it may produce a general intellectual inhibition or dulling of interest. If this happens it may seriously cripple the healthy development of the child and lay the foundation for later personal maladjustments. Getting down to business, this subject cannot be taught in a vacuum. By this I mean that it cannot be the dessert on an overcrowded educational menu, having little or no connection with what the other classes offer.

If we don't stress the love aspects of sexuality in the education of this subject, the child may think it is of little importance. In fact, the importance of love in sexual relations has been so overdone by the wrong people that it has almost caused a reaction on the part of some who are otherwise most sincerely connected with sexual reform.

Ideally, the teaching of this subject should start with the young pre-school child, not with the adolescent. The best way to start, I think, is to let the child see a nursing mother put the baby to the breast. The way the mother gives the nipple and the amount of direct and intimate body contacts she allows the child herself, is a lesson in sex education without going into any detail. Their impression may be profound depending upon what they have taken in. This is where I cannot over emphasize that sex education begins not with the child but with the parent. That is why there are classes in almost all urban centres, not only for the expectant mothers but for the expectant fathers, too, so that they can be taught the right way to bring up the baby when it arrives because they were taught sex education the wrong way.

In a society such as ours with the emphasis still on the ultimate authority of the conventionally structured family, any attempt on the part of public education to tamper with sex education for the very young would certainly meet with violent opposition from unsympathetic groups of parents. But once the child is old enough to have a mind of his own and a little discretion, it is not unrealistic to suggest that all schools could do a job of sex education just as is done at more progressive schools. If sex education was an accepted part of the total curriculum, it would make the teachers' task easier and educators less vulnerable to criticism and attack.

In most schools sex is taught as part of Biology with respect to animals and plants instead of just human Biology and natural science. It need hardly be spelled out that we should include in a total sex programme not only the procreative aspects of sex in general, i.e., the physiology of conception, growth of the foetus and the birth of the child but total sex education including non- anxiety arousing objective, accurate discussions of venereal diseases and the basic principles of their prevention and treatment. It should go without saying that total sex education must face the facts of the wanted and unwanted pregnancies and also the most effective methods of birth control while considering the moral and religious aspects. In the teaching of this subject the medical aspect of abortion and the legal side of it must be entered into. Unhealthy attitudes, false shame and generally morbid curiosity concerning the naked body would be reduced by using good films, paintings and statuary to illustrate lessons. I would also suspect that this would reduce the sex crime rate in New Zealand.

It is a reasonable assumption on the part of most unprejudiced educators that sex is not only here to stay but one of the most vital and talked about subjects of the human race today. A refusal to give honest sex education a proper place in the school curriculum will result in a continuation of much personal misery and general retardation of human progress which we can ill afford.

Of course nudist families have got less to teach their children than the non-nudist people, because the child sees its parents, other adults and growing children in the nude and is being taught a lesson in sex education without knowing it and with little questioning. The children who grow up in a jungle of clothes often becomes very unstable and nervous in a changing room even with their own sex such as at swimming pools where they are in groups. So the sooner sex is taught at an early age the sooner will they be turning out more balanced citizens from the fifth and sixth forms.

 


 

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WHAT MAKES A NUDIST?

Not so long ago I was lying on my sun-bed whilst my husband and some of our friends were discussing what makes a nudist. They seemed to be getting very involved in the subject and I soon lost interest until I was asked why I was a nudist. Well, up to then I had never really given it a thought. I joined the club just to please my husband since he seemed so keen on it, but I suppose my ideas on the subject have changed since I became a club member.

Right from the start I must say that it is the facilities offered by the club that have made me a nudist. I have always been keen on swimming and the pool is my centre of interest at the club. When I made my first visit it was the pool that decided me. You can't really describe what it is like to swim without a costume but once you've done it, you're hooked! I like my luxury and the club offers good and clean toilet and washing facilities as well as a small canteen to cope with light refreshments and the like. You must think that I am a lazy person; well, when I go to the club I go to relax and let myself take it easy after the week's daily routine.

Another thing that decided me right from the start was the people at the club. Previously, I had thoughts of rather weird characters with way out ideas and odd habits, but I was wrong. The people at the club are just an ordinary bunch of families, straightforward and perfectly normal who accept you as you are without any fuss or bother. I must admit that had I met any eccentric nudists they would have scared me off the club for ever, but I'm glad to say they haven't come my way yet. Of course children are perfectly at home in the club and they really enjoy themselves. Besides gaining confidence in the water and being able to run wild the club also gives them a no nonsense approach to sex. They just accept the differences between men and women without all the mystery that usually surrounds the subject. Again, taking the children along to the club makes it all the easier for mum to relax; all that needs doing is to feed them and attend to the odd little cut and bruise.

I suppose the biggest mystery to the outsider is why we take our clothes off in the club. Being a lazy naturist mine only come off when the sun shines and the same holds good for most of the members of the club. Why do I take my clothes off when the sun shines? Well I suppose because everybody else does, but apart from that there is the satisfaction of getting a really good tan. This is not only good from the health angle but is a decided asset to one's appearance! As I said before the feel of swimming in the nude is one of those things you have to experience before you can understand it. Probably the greatest barrier to a woman joining a club is the fear of being seen in the nude. I was scared stiff of being seen by a lot of strangers right up to the time I joined the club and it did take a lot of effort to make that first appearance. But you find that no one really takes much notice of you, no matter what you feel. This to me was my main worry but then I began to realise that I was no different to any one else and I began to enjoy myself.

A lot has been said about the benefits of nudism and how it makes people healthier in mind and body, and most of this is very true. I know that I feel quite happy about letting our little boy grow up in the happy atmosphere of the sun club and I do think that he will be all the better for it. But I do disagree with those that always say nudism is a way of life. For me nudism is first and foremost a way of relaxing, a cheap and enjoyable way of enjoying a summer holiday, not something I do all the year round at home. There is nothing very mysterious in such a view; it is very simple and because it is so simple it is all the more enjoyable.

So now if anyone was to ask me why I am a nudist my answers would be that I am a nudist because I like to be able to relax and take time off to enjoy the sun, that I look forward to a break from the routine of housekeeping, that I enjoy swimming and sunbathing, that I like the whole family to share such enjoyment and lastly that I now like to be nude in the sun to get a good all over tan, and cannot see anything objectionable in mixing with other people who just don't happen to have any clothes on at the time.

Mary


 

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PHOTOGRAPHY

By DOUG. R. COUSINS

As a club and Rally photographer for over ten years I feel I can add some remarks to those of D. Knight and others in our last magazine.

One important factor of the photos last year was that although I am not a Canterbury member I was Rally photographer. For years that club has tried to tell me that none of its members were willing to appear in magazine photos. I set out to prove beyond doubt that this was all wrong. I did, as you saw in all those photos, including two that appeared on the cover. But have we had any more Canterbury photos since?

D. Knight is correct in saying the magazine is crying out for photos. It has been for years. But where do we get - nowhere - because the CLUBS are not doing their duty. It is the CLUBS rather than the members that are basically at fault.

It would help considerably if more clubs appointed official photographers whose duties include taking photos expressly for the magazine. We must have the maximum variety of sites, backgrounds, people and events, etc., and we can't do that without more co-operation from the clubs. Remember, one issue of our magazine used about 30 photos, with up to 9 full page ones.

I am sorry I do not agree with D. Knight over Rally photography. Lots of members are not willing to shout from the roof tops that they are naturists. Over many years I have come up against every type of member, and I can truthfully say that there are still many who will not even allow themselves to appear in record photos, i.e., not for publicity. Again, D. Knight comes from a big club, but there are lots of people attending Rallies from small clubs who are experiencing a big function for the first time. They will be having a lot of qualms and their feelings should be respected. We could not hope to encourage these people to carry on attending Rallies if we have hordes of cameras everywhere. I am well aware what these people are like.

D. Knight says he would have dearly loved a photo of his wife in the swimming sports. Why didn't he tell the Rally photographer? I have tried to encourage this - telling Rally attenders that the official photographers are available for purely private family photos. Very few ever take up this offer.

D. Knight comments on Mac. I trust he has not forgotten that Arne Loot, the magazine photographer at the last Rally is himself a professional photographer.

The last Rally members' meeting asked for more photos of men and families. What have we had since? There have been more men, but where are the families? And where is the variety of photographers? It is still mainly the regular few who keep sending in photos.

Let's look at the last issue. Of 30 photos 11 were of girls on their own, 6 included men, 2 were true family photos and the rest a mixed grille. Two family shots out of 30 and only 6 with men. That is, I feel, a poor result from the Rally appeal.

Here is a tip for members who would like to help. If you do not mind appearing in magazine photos, then tell the club photographer, or another member you feel you can approach and who seems to have a good camera. Let him know you are willing, and on his agreeing to show all proofs to you for signatures for publication release, then let him go ahead. I trust members will not scoff at that idea. I am able to assure readers that I have been approached in that fashion and have gladly accepted the chance of new faces in my photos. Club members should bring up at their next annual general meeting the matter of a club official photographer. Give him a pretty free hand - the main rules being that all proofs, however poor, should be available for members to see, and that all negatives remain club property. It is as simple as that, and has worked well in my own club for years.


"Wishing will bring things in the degree that it incites you to go after them."

- Anon

 

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NEWS FROM THE CLUBS IN N.Z.

PALMERSTON NORTH SUN CLUB

As the Secretary of a new club, I didn't realise the amount of work that was needed. The writing and the amount of travelling to try to find our own grounds! With my wife I drove up every road and likely piece of ground. I must say that the people we met never laughed at us or told us to go when I explained why we wanted the land. Without an understanding wife, and keen members I know our Club would never have progressed to our present position. We have come a long way since we formed a Club in February and had provisional affiliation at the end of March 1970.

Last summer our members and their children enjoyed their days at our grounds. I must, at this stage, give special thanks to Ivan and Doug of Wanganui for all their help in the past.

Any interested family groups and couples please write to: The Secretary, P.O. Box 980, Palmerston North.

TAURANGA SUNCLUB

During the colder months of the year there has still been a regular core of members visiting and working on the Club Grounds - the "Sunbowl." The poorest attendance was one day when only the Secretary and his wife braved the elements. A new easily graded road has been put in and this should suit all cars and even caravans. A new wider footpath has been formed down to the splash pool. (Joan Treanor should not slip and fall on this one.) Members have planted more shrubs, flower plants, etc.

One Club "Hot Swim," in June, to Okoroire was attended by about three dozen members. The second that was to have been held in July was cancelled because of the influenza epidemic, probably imported from Auckland, which had struck some of our members. Tauranga has hardly had a winter, but we look forward to much warmer weather in the spring.

WELLINGTON SUN CLUB 1NC.

This winter has seen an enthusiastic revival of a club sauna evening at a new venue. The gathering is on Sunday evenings and has proved an excellent opportunity for social contact in the off season. There is a very good, very cold plunge pool and some items of exercise equipment for those so inclined. It's good to have a nude activity for the winter.

A monthly social has also been held, beginning with a theatre and coffee night in June, followed by an "Expo 70" evening in July. The latter featured Japanese dishes and "orthentic" Japanese dress. Held in a member's home, the atmosphere was delightful and will be long remembered by all who attended.

For August a programme of films and slides revived summer scenes, with housie and other games afterwards.

A car rally is planned for September - a club first, we think - and something that should still be a talking point when the new sunbathing season opens with our AGM in October.

NELSON SUN CLUB INC.

At the time of writing, it is approaching mid-winter, and whilst we of the Nelson S.C. are not exactly in a state of suspended animation, not a lot is happening. Our visits to the club grounds for the past few weekends have been mainly to work. Some of our hardier members, sometimes, try to tempt King Sol to come down and have a closer look, but I think we'll have to wait until spring before he does. However, this being distant, has allowed us to get on with some essential works. Our volleyball and badminton courts have been grassed down, and a windbreak/privacy fence is being erected between the upper games area and the lower one, which is being used as a car park until needed. Soon, we hope, more bulldozing, and grass sowing, will make our main sunbathing area and children's play area, look a little more civilized.

The two flying-foxes and the children's swimming pool, built towards the end of last summer, proved to be very popular, and we hope to have bigger and better versions of these in use by next sunning season.

We are looking forward to a visit in the near future from Doug C., complete with projector. He will be the star attraction at our first social gathering of the winter.

That's all the news for now. Anyone in the Nelson area, reading this, who would like to join us, our P.O. box number is 467 Nelson.

WAIKATO OUTDOOR SOCIETY

The Waikato Outdoor Society wishes to know why there are so few people interested in nudism in this area.

We are a university and teacher training college city, full of young people, but not one of these students applies for information.

There are sixty thousand persons in the city alone without counting the surrounding districts, about three sixty-thousandths of these apply for membership per year. Some say they do not know there is a club in the district, yet when we have an advertising campaign or an article in the newspaper there are never more than four or five enquiries. None of our members keep their interest in the movement secret. We try and show everyone the benefits of nudism and yet hope not to lose members by evangelising.

Surely our weather cannot be worse than Wellington, Wanganui or Palmerston North; we have sat on our hill in the middle of winter bathing in sunshine while Hamilton huddles below in a grey blanket, yet the progress of these other clubs is well known. Everyone is attracted to Rotorua with its beautiful hot stream, although Napier takes the cup most years for the greatest increase in membership, while the folk who live in the winterless north are fortunate to have the Whangarei club to join. Auckland is so interested in nudism it can support three clubs. Yet here in the Waikato we do not EVEN RECEIVE applications.

If applicants came and looked at us and decided, "No, fifty acres of raw land would require too much work" we could understand it, but they do not even make enquiry. If anyone interested in tennis or badminton wished to join they would have to get together and build a court; even our miniature golf course will have to be improved and the swimming pool needs many more hands to help finish it for the start of this season. There IS plenty to do on our grounds hut the fun of nudism is not just lying and sunbathing but the working together building a country club.

Probably everyone in the Waikato sunbathes on their own farm but then they lose the value of social nudism, the community of persons from nine days to ninety years olds bridging the generation gap with chatter as they work and play together. Must it be said that we are more conservative in this area? If any non-member reads this will they please write to the Waikato Outdoor Society, Box 619, and give us some indication why there is so little response, not even adversely, from the Waikato. Surely it cannot be that no one in this district can comprehend the purity of nudity.

KOWHAI VALLEY CLUB INC.

Our club is now on the "up-and-up." The frustrations and uncertainties experienced during the past year relating to our precarious tenure of the land we formerly occupied have at last been replaced by a comforting feeling of security. We now have a long-term written agreement with another land owner concerning our new site. This security has resulted in an upsurge of enthusiasm and an optimistic outlook for the future.

To misquote - slightly - Charles Dickens, we can truly say, in relation to the change-over: "It is a far, far better thing that we do, than we have ever done."

The moment the new land was decided on, valiant bands of workers set about the necessary preliminaries to form habitable grounds for the coming season. The land is solid native bush (completely private and screened), interspersed with thick second growth manuka trees, which we have permission to remove. This removal is now under way. An entrance strip and preliminary car-park space were first cleared, followed by a sunning area levelled and sown with grass seed. (A winter sowing - deemed impossible by horticulturists, yet it succeeded!) Flowers and bulbs planted here and there are already brightening up the dark green of the natural bush, and a wide clear stream is distant only a few dozen yards from this sunning and luncheon space.

Although our membership continues to grow steadily, it can be guessed that during the wet cold winter months the actual attendance at the new grounds is confined, mostly to week-end working parties; but the club spirit is kept alive by "getting-togethers" at frequent socials and warm-water swimming evenings.

On the approach of summer, the influx of well over a hundred human beings will stretch the available cleared spaces to the limit. Reluctantly, we may have to sacrifice some beautiful native bush: this will be a decision, one way or the other, for the future, in consultation with the owner of the land.

AUCKLAND OUTDOOR HEALTH CLUB

At Auckland Outdoor Health Club members have been repulsing the cold winter at a city Sauna which is now available on Sunday evenings. The films of the Rally held on the "Oranui" grounds last summer were viewed one evening, together with some old films to provide a contrasting background for the newer members who are familiar with only the present comfortable facilities.

Plans for the coming season include building a permanent filter house and extending the sundeck around the pool. The existing showers will also be upgraded and provision made for a sauna bath on the grounds. Some planting of bamboo on the boundary will also be carried out in anticipation of future development on neighbours' property.

 


 

I'm adequately covered, thank you.

"Insurance? No thank you; I am more than adequately covered at the moment!"


"Pictures? Without the pictures the nudist publications wouldn't sell; if the publications didn't sell social nudism wouldn't grow; and anything that doesn't grow will soon die. It's just that simple."

Nude Living, No. 47
Nudism and Censorship by
Frank G. Harris.

 

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

CONGRATULATIONS!

The June issue of our magazine was an excellent production and a credit to all contributors and editors. At last we seem to be shedding the habit (along with our clothes) of avoiding frank, "anatomically" correct photographs of nudists. If one ideal of the movement is to gather more people into the naturist fold, then the former habit of hide and seek shots would obviously have the reverse effect. "Afraid to be honest, eh!"

There is a challenging ring in the articles too. Norman's Editorial set the tone for the issue with a fair assessment of our collective beliefs; the nudist club environment is a counter to our weekday bedlam where we can re-create our persons, especially our mental energy.

If our magazine continues in this enlightening view, we will have the best mouthpiece for nudism of all the magazines purporting to illustrate our activities. Good luck for future issues.

Derek (Waikato)

QUERY??

I would like to compliment the Editorial Staff on the presentation of the latest issue of the New Zealand Naturist. The National and International news is informative to both members and the general public. Keep up the good work.

I would like to bring a fact to your notice which I believe has never been recorded under "Notes from the NZSA". This is the official numbers of members belonging to the National Association. Another small item of note, too, is the number of magazines printed, published and to what countries besides New Zealand the magazine reaches.

Looking through the news from the INF, I have found the European and North Americans well reported, yet our next door neighbour, Australia, has seldom been mentioned in this column. Surely there are activities or events which would interest New Zealanders. In conclusion, I would like to say that I am eagerly awaiting the June issue and hope that we go from strength to strength.

Dave Luttrell, A.O.H.C.

NOTE FROM AN AUSTRALIAN SUBSCRIBER

Re the article on sand flies and other insects. I saw an item in a local paper which stated that a family who holidays regularly at Bribie Island, where sand flies are rather bad, took a course of vitamin B1 tablets and found they were not worried with sand flies on subsequent holiday trips.

"MOWLEM TROPHY"

With reference to a complaint in the latest issue of our magazine regarding the method of awarding the trophy for "increase in new membership". -

I have read our National Secretary's reply to "Charles" and fully concur in what he has said.

When I presented the trophy some twelve years ago it was with the idea of providing a friendly target for our Clubs to strive for in much the same way as other Clubs do with "Cups", "Shields", etc... I thought it would help to spur interest for members to be a little bit "competitive" in increasing their numbers of genuine nudist members.

Now if the Clubs "don't bother" that is their business. To quote the Wanganui Club as winning "twice on end" and finding fault with that I cannot understand. "Pine-Glades" won it first in '59 and again from '61 to '64 inclusive. Any complaint about that? Good luck to them say I.

As for the "method" of deciding the winner surely official population figures and percentages worked from those is as fair as one can get. However, if any alteration is desired, it could be debated at the next National Rally.

Congratulations on keeping our magazine going nicely and now G. & G. are prepared to handle distribution I think sales should rise somewhat.

Cheers and best wishes

IVAN MOWLEM.

This letter was received before Ivan's untimely death, but we are sure he would have liked it printed - Editor.

BEWILDERED!!!

The article "Nudists as People" by Frank Sviatko in the March edition (No. 54) has me bewildered. What is he trying to say? His loose generalisations give a rather sordid impression of what nudists are and what they stand for. Some of his article is good while other parts do less than justice.

Take "hang ups" and the balanced person. By "hang ups" I presume he means inhibitions, which is "Instinctive or induced habitual shrinking from some impulse or action as a thing forbidden." If this is so I am glad that the balanced person has "hang ups" - provided they are well founded. What prevents one person striking another when reason is clouded by anger? What prevents the majority of unmarried men from trying to seduce every pretty girl over the age of sixteen? Society as we know it would not exist without its taboos and inhibitions. An inhibition not founded on truth is dangerous. A balanced person has normal responses to love, hate, etc. But no two persons have the same response to differing stimuli. In this we are unique. If someone is bored with another's company it is because he or she has not passed beyond the "shield" that most of us erect to protect ourselves from hurt.

The paragraph relating to meeting the balanced person, the voyeur, etc., can be misleading to an interested outsider. The text places equal emphasis on each type. Per head there would be more balanced people in Nudist Clubs than out. Some "odd fellows" do join but the open attitude of members has a therapeutic effect.

Again the implication that young unmarried couples sleep together is common practice in nudist clubs is unfair. I contend that generally the young in clubs have as high if not higher moral standards as those who are not.

Sex, Sexless and Erotic are badly defined. Nudist clubs are sexless in that it is the individual that counts, not whether he is male or female. The differences in sexes is there and accepted. Erotic comes from the Greek word Erotika meaning "Sexual Love." From the text "... one sheds one's clothing and healthy normal erotic interest at the same time," unquote. Surely this does not mean "normal sexual loving"? Is he suggesting that it is normal to desire every woman as a bed mate? Just as you can admire Venus de Milo or Hermes without sexual desires so you can admire a woman or a man.

The rest of the article is well written and to the point. His parting warning is well heeded. Many thanks for your interest and thank you Frank for a very interesting and controversial letter.

- Michael

NUDISM AND THE SINGLE MAN

I was very pleased to receive the first issue of your magazine No. 54.

I have bought your magazine from time to time and I am pleased to see that photographs are now similar to the overseas style. I was in Auckland recently where overseas magazines were on sale and nothing was blanked out. For nudists, this blanking out must be an insult to your purpose.

I am amongst the unfortunate single men who find it difficult to join your clubs and for what purpose I don't know; I have been practising nudism for years because I like it. I had to smile at Raymond Halsey's article - "Try sleeping in the Nude". When I started sleeping nude I had no formula, I just decided to sleep nude. There was no taking by stages, and my mother (who is now dead-God rest her soul), a puritan, was deeply shocked to find me sleeping raw.

I remember when I was about twelve I received the thrashing of my life because I was seen swimming in the nude, but I still carried on. My parents thought that the only time when one should be naked was when one bathed, and then one shouldn't look at oneself.

I was reading the article by E. W. Flint about "Exhibitionists" with which I quite agree. However I put it this way. It didn't take much to make us. There were no moulds and when we look at each other we of the right mind must wonder at what put this and that in their proper places. Through being a nudist one can look after his or her body, but above all it is how nature intended us to be, so why shouldn't nudists at least try to keep to nature.

I remember a few years ago being on a picnic. I was listening to others talking about their surroundings. One said, "Isn't nature the most lovely thing." I felt like saying that if they took their clothes off, they would really understand nature.

I also think that partners can be found at nudist camps. One meets people of the right mind. I would also like to be able to correspond with nudist males and females, or perhaps we could meet and discuss why we can't join.

Perhaps then it would come to the reason why I'm not married. After all it's not so easy to say to a girl, "If you're a nudist, I'll marry you."

Neil D., Patea

PHOTOGRAPHY

I do not agree with the remarks made by Emiel Roland with regard to photography in Issue 55. The by-laws of individual clubs are decided by the majority of members taken on the vote, each of whom has the right to vote for or against any particular issue, but in any democratic society the majority rules, be it in politics, restoration or anything else.

I personally did not vote for restoration in the Western Districts of Auckland, nevertheless I must accept it because of a majority vote.

I agree there isn't anything wrong in taking photos of one's own family or friends with their children at play, and I am all for a lot more natural photos of children and family groups appearing in any magazine.

These do not have to be taken on the club grounds or outings when most members are in disagreement. Why not at a gathering at home or any other suitable place. They could be just as appealing. Then those of us who like to belong to the club could go out and relax without fear of having our photo taken without our knowledge or permission.

Irene James, Kowhai Valley Club

CENSORSHIP AND WRITINGS

The problem of censorship is not new, and the same arguments for and against are generally brought up at each discussion. Popularly censorship is synonymous with sex, although it is also concerned with violence, and other public issues. Often bad arguments about censorship are advanced from both sides, and this makes it difficult for the man in the street to resolve the problem. For the moment I would like to make a few general comments, with perhaps special reference to, if you like, sex censorship. Because of the recent preparation of a petition for increased 'sex' censorship, by misinformed and misguided persons, this is pertinent. I wish also to make use of comments made by respected commentators, such as Jacques Leclerq and Henry Miller.

It may seem today the attention given to the body and its parts is greater than ever before, but as Walter Lippmann has said, "nobody knows whether the conversation about sex reflects more promiscuity or less hypocrisy." Certainly the subject relates to natural functions, and one should not be afraid to accept and acknowledge these functions. When one tries to cover up this idea, the trouble starts.

Some look at it from a different angle and say the presence of "filth" in print or on the stage has a bad influence on individuals and society. At any rate this is the story they put up. Henry Miller has asked about such people, "Is it the existence, the prevalence of immoral, amoral, or unsocial behaviour ... or is it the exposure of such behaviour in print" that disturbs them? Without any supporting evidence, the late Mr Hanan M.P. said, "the display and distribution of indecent material is socially harmful..." But is it?

I have seen it quoted that in one study of male juvenile offenders there was no proof that the reading of pornographic material had contributed to the committing of crime. Also, that in a survey of American psychiatrists and psychologists, only 7% had cases in which they felt pornography had led to antisocial sexual behaviour; and over 80% felt persons exposed to pornography are no more likely to engage in such acts than those not exposed. An important stage was reached when the chairman of that useful body, the Indecent Publications Tribunal, said: "If pleasant and unretouched nude pictures were as common in the community as it appears they are in the nudist clubs, then it is likely their reproduction would be greeted with no more unseemly excitement than it is there."

In books, in films, and on the stage I expect to see a naked body if it is relevant to the situation. In movies such as "Isabelle and Therese" nakedness can be an important and natural integral part of the situation, and not the least "corrupting." After seeing stills and scripts from "Oh Calcutta,,' while feeling that some parts may be distasteful (but not foreign to human nature), I am perturbed that minorities can successfully (and unreasonably) exclude such art forms. This brings up the idea of freedom to read what one chooses, which is important in an age when freedoms tend to become more restricted and controlled. The idea that this is right, cannot be eliminated by suppressing it - and often suppression has quite unwanted effects. "No government has ever succeeded in finding a balanced policy of combating unhealthy sexual propaganda without injuring legitimate freedom or provoking other equally grave or worse dangers." If "bad books" are bad, to successfully do anything about it people must come to learn that is so - to really believe it. This requires different techniques to making them submit to some "convention upheld by all human and divine authority."

It is very easy to criticise. It is easy for some people to demand increased controls, and tougher censorship. But before any such action is taken let us be sure of what we are saying, and its effects. Let us be sure there is a problem, and that there are not other more urgent, more important, problems to be considered. It is a fact we need to learn much about living with each other as we are - of respecting the other person's rights and individuality. May I quote Henry Miller writing in defence of one of his banned books: "Let us stop thwarting one another, stop judging and condemning one another... Does the pursuance of your limited role enable you to get the most out of life? When you write me off the books will you be a better man, a better husband, a better father than before?" This is what matters.

Stephen L. Palmerston North.

 

RIVER VALLEY SUN CLUB

On NSW-VICTORIA BORDER

Situated in a pleasant bushland setting

A new ground with modern facilities: lawn sports courts, trampoline, canoeing, river fishing, swimming, paddle pool, swings, caravan, cabin accommodation, tent sites. Interstate and overseas visitors welcome.

Enquiries P.O. Box 227, Euchuca, Vic. 3638, Australia

 

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BEFORE THE COCK CROWS TWICE

Peter Auliff, A.O.H.C.

Jesus said to Peter, "Before the cock crows twice, thou shalt deny me thrice." And it is said that after the denial he wept.

We can all sympathise with his reasons for denying his association with Jesus, hut I wonder how many of us would weep from shame at denying something that we sincerely believe in.

I have known many people deny their association with nudism; no doubt they felt that their reasons justified it, but should they not also weep? There are of course times when it would be unwise to tell others, if it could lead to legal or parental difficulties, but these are rare.

When I have admitted to a friend that I am a nudist they almost invariably say that I am the first person that they have ever known who belonged to a Club. They are always surprised when I tell them that they probably know at least two more, who have not told them.

Our neighbours in the street where we live know that we are nudists and do not think any worse of us for it. We have had club members visit our neighbours and call on us at the same time, and many a golden opportunity has been wasted when they have made up stories as to how they came to know us.

Surely we do not have to be afraid of losing our friends because we believe in something that they may, or may not, think peculiar. I have never lost a friend through nudism, in fact, it is more the other way: A true friend will want to know more about the subject, and would probably need little persuasion to try it for themselves.

A lot of members who deny being nudists are afraid of being thought members of an orgiastic society by their friends and business associates. By being secretive, they are only encouraging this view: Only by telling people about the nudist movement can we dispose of some of the peculiar ideas that seem to have become fixed in their minds. After all, we have nothing to be ashamed of.

Some members will not talk about their clubs; not because they are ashamed of being nudists, but because they do not want to have more members joining and crowding them out of their club. This I consider a very negative attitude and not worthy of a genuine nudist! We must continually admit new members, even if it is only to replace those who move out of the district or die.

It is, in my opinion, the duty of every nudist to do everything in his power to publicise the movement. Never in all the history of nudism has there been such a favourable climate of opinion and all the newspapers, radio and television channels are prepared to carry articles for us. So speak up and be proud of being a nudist; never let the chance to explain the nudist way pass you by. Then maybe one day we will be able to bathe at a public beach without having to get dressed up in bathing costumes.


"If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can show somebody he's travelling wrong, then my living will not be in vain."

Dr. Martin Luther King
(Two months before his assassination)


N A T U R I

A progressive club in New South Wales
has its own sauna bath and many acres of beautiful bushland
less than an hour's drive from the heart of Sydney.

Applications invited from couples and families
Box 11, P.O., BEROWRA, N.S.W. 2081, Australia

 

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N.Z.S.A. NEWS

ADDRESSING MAIL

May we ask all readers to ensure that mail is correctly addressed. There are too many occasions when NZSA and magazine mail is addressed to the Wellington club and vice versa. The Wellington club's box is 2854 and should only be used for matters that concern the club. All NZSA and magazine business mail should be addressed to Box 359, Wellington 1. Thank you.

FREE BEACHES

The start has been made with the appointment of a solicitor whose first duty will be to prepare an outline of the procedures necessary to obtain a change of law to permit free areas, whether beaches or otherwise. Club members will hear more of this when more information is circulated to club Secretaries.

SUN AND HEALTH

This English magazine is still available from this office at 70 cents a copy or $7.00 a year of 12 issues. It is well illustrated with natural photographs both in colour and monochrome.

PERC. COUSINS TRUST FUND

Once again this fund is rising steadily, both from voluntary donations, for which we are continually grateful, and club levies. We are pleased to acknowledge the following people for their contributions: Last balance $1047.74; Club levies $33.60; KWF (Ak) $1.00; CKM (Westport) $2.00; EGD (Ak) $2.40; WA (Wn) $1.00; JDP (Wn) $4.00; Miscellaneous 80 cents; New balance $1092.54.

I.N.F. PENNANTS

We are sorry to advise club members that the price of these pennants has had to be increased from 60 cents to 90 cents. This is due to a decision by the Customs that pennants are dutiable, being classed as "textiles" within the meaning of the Customs regulations.

REPLIES TO ADVERTISING

In April we advertised our magazine in a national weekly paper. Three replies contained no return address and two did not have any money. If the senders should happen to read this they are invited to contact this office to set the matter right.

 


 

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A HOLIDAY IN NEW ZEALAND

No holiday in New Zealand would be complete for an Aussie Nudist Family without visiting some New Zealand Clubs.

It was a rather cool May day when John (President) took us out to Pineglades, where we were to stay for two nights. We had just spent one week touring the South Island and after arrival at Christchurch at 49°F we got the feeling of an old world atmosphere where the "go go" of so called "modern living" belongs to another world.

Imagine our surprise on arrival at the club, after partaking of John and his wife's hospitality, to see so many cabins in such a lovely setting. The one which we were to use we immediately called "The Hotel Australia." The age-old debate, I am sure, preceded the erection of the cabins. This is that they tend to split a club in half, but full credit must be given to all members and executive for the standard of cabins which do not seem to have detracted from the high quality of the general amenities and the pleasant surroundings of the club grounds.

Our meeting with Gavin, President of the N.Z.S.A., and Doug Cousins in Wellington, gave us first hand details of the capable way in which the National Executive operates and we were most impressed by the lead they give the movement without affecting the individuality of each club. The strengthening of the Australian Federal body on similar lines would be advantageous.

Our visit to the Wellington club was a lesson in determination to win more ground from the side of a hill where others would say "impossible!" A big works programme is well under way to provide additional facilities for this year's rally and we were most impressed with the good playground equipment for the children who will become the members of tomorrow to carry on the movement.

Ivan at Wanganui, although not in good health, made us most welcome. This club made us realise you can't measure clubs by size of grounds or number of members. They made us feel that we had known them all for years.

Auckland Outdoor Health Club has large grounds of natural bushland. If only we had some of their grass at Tindo. Our visit was all too short as the day was perfect and the courts were in big demand, but the pool could do with a little fire under it for us tenderfoots.

Auckland Sun Club, although their grounds are small, have a very friendly membership and enjoy the occasional well organised weekends away from the club grounds.

What would I like to see by way of improvements? A better liaison between the Australian and New Zealand Federal Executives. It is no fault of New Zealand that this does not happen now.

An arrangement between Australian and New Zealand clubs where an exchange of members could take place for club visits and holidays as guests of the host club would provide low cost holidays not to mention the new friendships that would result.

New Zealand is far ahead of Australia in its acceptance of nudism and your clubs are generally better organised. The plans you have for improvements will assure you of leadership over Australia for quite some time.

May we pay tribute to Joan Treanor who through the hospitality of Pam and Dave made our stay in Auckland a time to remember for a long, long time.

Merv, Marie & Family,
"Tindo Club"
South Australia.

 

PREPARATION FOR CHILDBIRTH and PARENTHOOD

The Federation of NZ Parents Centres which holds classes in ante-natal education for expectant couples throughout New Zealand now offers a POSTAL ANTE-NATAL COURSE.

Approved by the Federation's medical advisory committee, this course covers,

Pregnancy and Childbirth; Exercises; Relaxation and Breathing Techniques;
Post-natal exercises; Breast feeding help; The new baby end child development.

The postal course does not take the place of a mother's regular visits to her doctor or clinic, but it helps equip her for the tasks of motherhood when she is unable to attend regular ante-natal classes.

Inquiries: Parents Centre Postal Course, The Secretary,

131 Te Anau Road, Hataitai, Wellington 3

 

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I.N.F. NEWS

Every two years delegates representing their National Associations affiliated to the I.N.F. come together to discuss the affairs of Naturism, its progress and future developments. This is usually followed by a sports programme conducted by the host club, including trips to places of interest. In 1970 this international gathering will take place on the 50-acre site of the North Kent Sun Club, England.

Although New Zealand is distant from the major countries, it has always managed to be represented. In 1951, the I.N.F. became officially recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The functions of the I.N.F. are to make available to members through their National Associations, news, passports, a Naturist Guide book which gives up to dale information on the facilities of every club throughout the world.

During the Congress itself, prizes are awarded to writers who actively publicise the movement. Not only is this meeting arranged for the foreign vIsitors attending, but it also brings many Naturists from clubs all over the United Kingdom. Here they will receive a first hand report followed by much lively discussion. Although on a bi-annual basis, it is similar to the NZSA Rallies. Those who have come from far and near will return to make their reports, some probably a little wiser and more informed than before.

- Dave Luttrell

SPAIN

We have previously commented on the difficulties this country faces owing to the predominating religion. At a meeting in France, Spanish naturists considered the acquisition of a naturist site in France as a merely temporary solution which will in no way further naturism in Spain. The acquisition of a site in Spain itself is considered essential. Spanish naturists propose that the 1NF or its affiliated federations should contact Spanish embassies in their respective countries, one suggestion being to invite the attaches to visit naturist centres.

FRANCE

Last year the 22 French naturist holiday centres met together with the FFN. An agreement was concluded on tariffs and the conditions for application of the INF rules on naturist tourism. In 1969 the French naturist holiday centres recorded 70,000 visitors and 1,200,000 days they spent in the centres.

The Club du Soliel at Bordeaux (which is near Montalivet) recently inaugurated its new headquarters. The local Mayor, who happens to be the French Prime Minister, was personally represented at the ceremony and he assured the FFN of his support.

GERMANY

An international swimming gala at Bonn under INF patronage was an overwhelming success. It was commented on most favourably by the Press. Over 400 participants attended from 9 countries.

LUXEMBURG

For years naturists in this small country have been members of clubs in France, Belgium and Germany - their neighbouring countries. The INF has now taken the initiative of asking these various clubs to endeavour to arrange a meeting of Luxemburg naturists at a convenient club for the purpose of founding Luxemburg's first club.

HOLLAND

We previously mentioned an effort to obtain a naturist beach having been defeated by the authorities. This has had repercussions in the form of numerous articles in the Dutch Press and reactions from all over the country, most of them in favour of the project.

U.S.A.

After having its headquarters in New Jersey for over 30 years the American Sunbathing Association has now moved to Florida. No doubt this is a case of moving to the "winterless south". This will be freehold instead of leasehold and is expected to have a big influx of visitors when a new Disneyland opens nearby next year.

 

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CLUB DIRECTORY

The secretaries of the clubs listed below will be pleased to hear from genuine enquirers. Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

NORTHERN SUN SEEKERS

P.O. Box 4126, Kamo.

AUCKLAND OUTDOOR HEALTH CLUB INC.

P.O. Box 2702, Auckland.

AUCKLAND SUN CLUB INC.

P.O. Box 2925, Auckland.

Phone 604-235

KOWHAI VALLEY CLUB INC.

P.O. Box 6238, Wellesley St. W, Auckland 1.

WAIKATO OUTDOOR SOCIETY INC.

P.O. Box 619, Hamilton

TAURANGA SUN CLUB

P.O. Box 2205, South Tauranga.

ROTORUA SUN CLUB

P.O. Box 1007, Rotorua.

GISBORNE SUN CLUB

P.O. Box 391, Gisborne

HAWKE'S BAY SUN CLUB INC.

P.O. Box 551, Napier

Phone 37-692

WANGANUI SUN CLUB

P.O. Box 410, Wanganui.

Phone 38-421.

PALMERSTON NORTH SUN CLUB

P.O. Box 980, Palmerston North.

WELLINGTON SUN CLUB INC.

P.O. Box 2854, Wellington.

Phone TIB 8300

NELSON SUN CLUB INC.

P.O. Box 467, Nelson.

CANTERBURY SUN & HEALTH CLUB INC.

P.O. Box 1823, Christchurch.

OTAGO SUN & HEALTH CLUB

P.O. Box 2058, South Dunedin.

SOUTHERN SUN & HEALTH CLUB INC.

P.O. Box 486, Invercargill.

Phone 541K Winton

If you are not close to any of the above clubs, you may like to know that other naturists are ready to form clubs in the following areas:

New Plymouth

Westport

Masterton

Timaru

Blenheim

 

To contact them, write to:

        N.Z. Sunbathing Association Inc.

        P.O. Box 359, Wellington


 

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Noted:- 

History: A.O.H.C. Twenty-one Years

Obituary: Ivan Mowlem by Gavin Robieson

Warren Cooke: The Young Ones

NZSA News - Free Beaches


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© FBNZ
One finger tenekoit

Photo: Mac, W.O.S. 

Beauty unadorned

 

Photo: Doug Cousins 

Woman in bush

Photo: Doug Cousins  

A quiet pool near Raglan

 

Geometry at Oranui

Photo: Murray Wren 

Geometry at Oranui

Photo: Mac, W.O.S. 

Geometry at Oranui

Photo: Roy Carson 

North Kent's lovely tiled pooled

Photo: John Gilmour 

Relaxed and contented

Photo: Murray Wren  

North Kent's lovely tiled pooled

First Club House, Oranui, 1957

North Kent's lovely tiled pooled

Photo: Mac, W.O.S. 

North Kent's lovely tiled pooled

Photo: Doug Cousins 

North Kent's lovely tiled pooled

Photo: Doug Cousins 

North Kent's lovely tiled pooled

Photo: Mac, W.O.S. 

North Kent's lovely tiled pooled

Photo: Doug Cousins 

North Kent's lovely tiled pooled

Photo: Doug Cousins  

North Kent's lovely tiled pooled

Photo: D. Knight   A.O.H.C. 

North Kent's lovely tiled pooled

Doug, W.S.C. 


Photo: Arne Loot

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