#  30 - December 1963 

[The New Zealand Naturist - Summer] Editor: Gerald Wakely (Pages: 16 - 2/- each)

Contents:-

Editorially Speaking
NZSA notes - Bright Ideas Department, Outcast, Wellington's Sauna Bath
A word from the President
The Sky's the Limit
Book Review - The Naked Truth
Off-beat Corner
Retrospect (a reprint of: The nudist in the modern world #3 & Nudism In NZ: The present & the future)
INF News - England, U.S.A.
Point of View by Gerald Wakely
Talking to Women with Joan Treanor
Junior Section - Philip
What's on your mind?
News from the clubs (3)
Directory: (10)

Noted

NEW ZEALAND SUNBATHING ASSOCIATION


President

 

Perc. W. Cousins

Vice-President

 

Ivan Mowlem, Ray Clark

Secretary & Treasurer

 

Doug. Cousins

Public Relations Officer

 

Norman Fullerton

Overseas Correspondent

 

Gavin Robieson

Youth Organiser

 

Philip van Dusschoten

Women's Representative

 

Joan Treanor

Photographer

 

Doug. Cousins

Delegates representing all clubs

 

N.Z. NATURIST

Editor

 

Gerald Wakely

Business Manager

 

Doug. Cousins

Production

 

Helen Fullerton, Bob McIver


ENQUIRIES REGARDING MEMBERSHIP OF A NATURIST CLUB or any matters concerning naturism in New Zealand or overseas may be made of the Association at its office.

WRITE TO: N.Z. Sunbathing Association, P.O. Box 6359, Wellington.


THE NEW ZEALAND NATURIST is published quarterly and is supplied on subscription at the rate of 7/- for 4 issues.

All communications regarding subscriptions and distribution should be made to: Business Manager, N.Z. Naturist, P.O. Box 6359, Wellington.

All editorial matter should be addressed to: Editor, N.Z. Naturist, P.O. Box 2702, Auckland.

Articles and photographs are sought from those with interest in and practical experience of naturism in N.Z. or elsewhere.


The NZ Naturist

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EDITORIALLY SPEAKING

It took long enough to get the N.Z. Sunbathing Association started. It seems to be taking a whale of a time to get it a constitution. Much work was done on this at the last rally and the draft constitution has been circulated to clubs for their comments, with a view to the adoption of a final constitution at the coming rally. It is to be hoped that all suggestions made in the way of alterations to the draft, where they are shown as coming from clubs, represent the views of the members expressed in open meeting.

It is as well to get an idea of what has been proposed for this will mould the way that the organised naturist movement in New Zealand will be run. Are the alterations far seeing and statesmanlike and free of bias? If so, they should surely be supported.

One alteration suggests that four of the officers of the committee whose names are much before the public: the P.R.O., Youth Organiser, Overseas Correspondent and Editor, N.Z. Naturist; should not be on the executive. A patron is apparently not required - is this forward looking? What if a four-minute miler or a well-known coach was a patron? This would be better advertising for naturism than any number of rallies.

A lack of savoir faire is evidenced in the suggestions that paragraphs dealing with the hiring and firing of servants, co-option of members, the payment of expenses to members and the operation of petty cash accounts by officers of the association be deleted. Likewise, the same source wishes to delete a clause which proposed Life Membership for an individual who has given service to the association and whose advice would be useful in the future.

One club wishes to completely delete one by-law stating that 'the bringing in or consuming of intoxicating liquor at any official function of the Association is strictly prohibited'. Is this in the best interests of the Association?

Despite the fact that provision is made in the draft to restrict voting by the host club so that it cannot swamp other clubs, it is not proposed to allow ordinary members to have a real say in the running of the Association other than through their club's delegate.

 

A proposed new clause reads: 'A general meeting of members shall be held as soon as possible after the executive meeting, where its decisions will be made known. This meeting will have the power of discussion and recommendation, but not of decision; and any recommendations of sufficient merit shall be referred to the Executive for discussion before the Rally terminates.' Who decides what is 'of sufficient merit'? And note that the Executive is to discuss this but there is no provision for reporting back.

A newsletter accompanying the draft stated: 'No general meeting of members is competent to vote on N.Z.S.A. policy; this must be decided by the Executive for the following reasons ... past apathy of general members ... few club members are sufficiently conversant with national matters to be able to pass an opinion, let alone vote intelligently...'

Is this the sort of approach to the ordering of your affairs that you want? Some may well feel that much of their time between 1939 and 1946 was spent trying to prevent this sort of attitude prevailing throughout the world.

When the first number of The National Review (later to become this journal) came out, I retyped the whole of it to give the then editor an idea of how I thought it should be laid out. Since then I have been much concerned with the publication. During my editorship it went into print, the circulation increased from 550 to 1,300 and it has taken on a brighter cover. However, it is evident that independence of outlook upsets. So, although I will attend the meeting of the Executive at the next rally, I do not expect that you will see my name on future issues of the publication; in fact, I do not intend to offer my services again. In signing off I would like to thank all those who have helped me over the years; except for one they are too numerous to mention. The exception is my wife who is exceptional in what she has endured. She deserves your thanks as well as mine.

Gerald Wakely


DEADLINE for the next issue is
7 January 1964

 

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NZSA 

   NEW ZEALAND SUNBATHING

   ASSOCIATION NOTES

 

Bright Ideas Department

Have you ever thought of inviting the Handicapped Children's Society, or some such, to use your grounds during the week? Such an invitation should be well received and could do a lot towards improving relations with those outside. A member with the time could be in attendance, to offer every assistance. It's worth thinking about.

 

Outcast

We read with some amusement and no little nostalgia in the last issue of Sport and Sunshine, of a chap who became an outcast in his club for the day, after trying out the olive oil and vinegar recipe to improve his sun tan and keep off the flies. He kept all his club mates at a distance, too.

With some considerable sympathy, we can quote a similar example some years ago, when Stewart of Wellington plentifully besmeared himself with this vile-smelling concoction.

 

 

Everywhere he went, his normally popular self was greeted with 'Pooh', and hasty retreats.

We have never been able to prove its effectiveness as either a sun lotion or an insect repellent, for no-one likes to be ostracised. Sun clubs are such friendly places normally.

Wellington's Sauna Bath

A public sauna's popularity is increasing in the Capital, club members of both sexes enjoying the whole evening on separate nights in company with members of the public. Fitness and renewed zest are claimed by its supporters and free literature is supplied by the N.Z.S.A. and is available on the premises for those interested. For those unfamiliar with a sauna, it is a product of Finland where you strip off your clothes and enter a room where dry heat has been raised to over 200 degrees followed by a cold shower to close the pores again. Dirt and grime oozes out of every pore and invigoration follows.

 

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A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT

To those of us who have been interested for many years in the establishment of this movement and in attempting to gain a degree of acceptance, we hail with delight any move aimed at bringing these ideals to a conclusion. Newspapers, the Broadcasting Corporation, magazines, are all helping and we have come a long way. Perhaps this magazine can assist too.

Have we accomplished very much in comparison with what remains still to be done? Not really and no doubt a great many of you are not unduly concerned. But, as with every organisation, this one has its willing horses who are prepared to risk criticism and misunderstanding and who work long hours voluntarily, with no greater reward than to further our ideals and see the movement grow.

The apparent slow rate of progress is due simply to convention, for so many follow its dictates regardless and any attempt to propound something such as nudism, does not seem to be quite the thing and is therefore classed as cranky, doubtful or just plain indecent.

Well, that is the job we have on our hands - to persuade people that we are none of these things. At one time, we gave this matter a lot of thought before joining and we have since been convinced by practice that it is the reverse of what most people imagine. If you are a doubter, you need to experience for yourself the sheer delight of nude sunbathing among other ladies and gentlemen and the health-giving benefits to be enjoyed, in order to really be satisfied in the truth of our claims.

But there is an intermediate step available to all of you and one that brings no obligations, one that you will enjoy and one in which you may participate without anyone knowing, if you want it that way.

 

And that is to read every issue of this magazine from cover to cover and whilst doing so, realise that the writers are no different from you - just ordinary, law-abiding citizens anxious to get the best out of life and showing it by the example of their healthier outlook and happier adjustment to everyday problems. These people have dared to defy the conventions and see for themselves that this is a wonderful life, a life that will benefit you as well.

Perhaps you might like to enjoy the sunshine all over in some secluded spot where there will be no-one to offend. Having got that far, you can then imagine how pleasant it would be to enjoy swimming, playing games or just plain loafing, with others whom you could trust and on private property set aside and developed for that very purpose.

Just think about this, perhaps a little more seriously than you have done before and at least keep an open mind on the question. If you would like to pursue the matter further, an enquiry sent to the N.Z.S.A., Box 6359, Wellington, will receive courteous and considerate treatment; or if you would prefer it, drop a line to the club secretary nearest to you. If you like the sun, the beauties of nature, better health, mental and physical, then this is a step you will never regret. A welcome awaits every sincere enquiry.

Perc. W. Cousins

                         


Shopkeepers were losing business because cars were tearing by so fast. One proprietor had a bright idea and erected a sign which said:

SLOW DOWN. NUDISTS CROSSING AHEAD

It worked. Some cars even turned around and crawled back.

 

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THE SKY'S THE LIMIT

It all started during the Christmas holidays. Someone said 'Let's climb up to the top of the hill above the camp and look down on the tents, pool and the valley'. The idea appealed to several of us and soon we were on our way. That was enough to whet the appetites of the keener ones and before long, it was on one morning, before I was up to be exact, that I heard of the next climb. One of the crowd put her head in the tent and said 'Come on Hilda, we are going to Dobson's Hut. You're coming aren't you?' I went - could not resist - the idea suited me fine. The thought of tramping up the hillside overlooking the bush and valleys on that fine clear day was enough. We were off again trekking along in single file - sometimes in clearings, sometimes in the native bush, stopping now and again to admire the view or a tree, or for someone to point out a township in the distance.

It was hot, the ground was steamy after the rain of the previous week - on we went to Dobson's Hut. And from the Hut, what a wonderful sight looking out along the hilltops and down into the valleys.

The day was perfect, calm and clear. We were away from the camp several hours for this trip. All agreed it was a good outing. It gave a few seasoned trampers an idea - this was summer time - how about a trip or two in the winter - Yes?

 

Winter trips

Our next two trips were day trips in May and June, which led to a weekend one in July. This weekend trip took us 3,000 odd feet into the hills behind Otaki to Field Hut.

A little more preparation went into this outing. Our packs had to provide bedding, food and warm clothes for the overnight stay in the hills.

 

After a week of wind and rain our weekend dawned fine and bright. We were on our way again climbing towards Field Hut - the snow in the distance seemed to have some magnetic power - on we went - it was a tougher climb this time.

Someone said, after a long time, 'We've gone a third of the way.' Phew ! 'We're getting nearer.' 'A quarter of an hour and we'll be there. 'Ah ! The Hut.'

The boys dropped their packs and went off into the bush with crosscut saw and axes and brought back logs for the fire. A stew was prepared. This, and coffee was served by a log fire - I did notice a sign on the Hut door saying it was a third- class place. We could not have asked for more - except perhaps a more comfortable bed and no callers in the middle of the night - that friendly opossum just came in to see if we were comfortable no doubt - but he did wake us all up

The ground was white with frost in the morning but the air was crisp and clear and the sun was warm.

All were eager to climb higher. The frost on the snow grass was not too comfortable on our legs when we set off but soon we were marching along through snowy patches and ice-covered pools enjoying every minute. On we went to the highest point of the trip - 4,010 feet.

All of us stood on the top of Dennan Peak and viewed the landscape - it was extensive. We saw the South Island, Wellington Harbour, Mt Egmont and Mt Ruapehu. On that snowy peak the photographers appeared in force. Here we were at 4,010 feet, we started on the hill overlooking the tents and pool - which mountain next? Mt Cook?

Hilda, W.S. & H.S.

About the best method of climbing higher is to remain on the level.

 

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BOOK REVIEW

The Naked Truth - Jenny Mann

A 'Consul' paperback, 'The Naked Truth' is the first book on nudism to be published in England for many years and a welcome improvement on the dated accounts of thirty years ago. As a self- confessed 'nudist for a year or two', Jenny Mann is remarkably well informed and clubs, beaches, activities, films, humour, publicity, youth groups and legalities are all described along with the personal introduction to nudism as published recently in the N.Z. Truth.

In consequence the first part of the book gushes with the ecstasies of a newly found delight, while the following chapters read like a travel guide. We are given an international directory of clubs and associations together with a medley of fact, fiction, history, heresy and quotations.

Scattered among the superlatives are a few mildly controversial opinions going beyond mere repetition of the trite arguments of earlier nudist writers. There is a frank acknowledgement of the place of sex and a repudiation of the typically English (and Kiwi?) denial of eroticism and the sensuality of naked beauty. "... a race of prudes, who, even when they're naked in mixed company, pretend that they're not."

The more thoughtful opinions, however, are sandwiched between sufficient sensation, entertainment and rapturous eulogies to be relatively innocuous, and the author's enthusiasm may well infect the ordinary reader. In short, there is a balance with something for the veteran as well as the neophyte.

Against the overall optimism in the book we can also set more sobering passages as, for example, a lament for nude bathing.

 

'We have not progressed very much when we consider that what even the Victorians did openly without a blush we are forced to do in a secret and underhand way.'

Apart from the too lengthy list of clubs, Jenny Mann's style is lively, her facts are authoritative, and her attitude sensible. The book is illustrated in the 'H. & E.' tradition, which should not restrict its sale in New Zealand even if it adds less aesthetic value and pictorial information than might have been possible.

Norman Fullerton


(Note: This book was air-mailed from the U.K. for review at my invitation. It is now available in bookshops in New Zealand. -Ed.)

                         

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OFF-BEAT CORNER


Nothing to do but work!

Nothing! alas, alack!

Nowhere to go but out!

Nowhere to come but back!


Epitaph

Here lies the man Richard

And Mary his wife

Whose name was Prichard

They lived without strife

And the reason was plain

They abounded in riches

They had no care nor pain

And his wife wore the breeches.

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RETROSPECT

The following articles appeared in earlier issues of this journal, which has been known successively as The National Review, The National Naturist Review and The New Zealand Naturist. They represent one person's thinking on naturism which has led to the conclusions given in the 'Point of View' elsewhere in this issue.

THE NUDIST IN THE MODERN WORLD.
    The National Review, No. 3, November 1956.

'There must be no discussion of politics or religion or other controversial matters.' This, believe it or not, appeared in the by-laws of our club when Karin and I joined. I'm glad to say it's there no longer.

Free discussion is more important now than at any other time. For we have so little time to rouse ourselves from the lethargy and materialism to a sense of the values that really matter. Social security, guaranteed wages and five bob on the double aren't going to isolate us from what's going on in the rest of the world. And nudists, perhaps more than many others, must be aware of all that is at stake.

Nudism stands for freedom. The freedom of the naked body, the freedom that we know and treasure of the wind caressing a body free of the constrictions of clothes, the freedom of water coursing down bare skin, the feel of the sun all over one's body. We have tasted freedom. We are addicts. We stand to lose most.

Nudism as a philosophy, is one of the first to fall to tyranny. National Socialism suppressed nudism, Communism has done so. These dictatorial regimes are directly at loggerheads with our conception of life. They want to turn every man, woman and child into a copy of each other - look at their passion for uniforms for men and women if you disbelieve this. But we know that no one is the same, that the miracle of life is that everyone is different. How could we be allowed to survive in a Communist regime, having such knowledge and keeping it alive through the practice of nudism?

It is easy to say: 'So what? You're getting all boiled up over something that can't affect us. This is little old New Zealand, boy, 'way out in the sticks, no joker's going to take the bother to come and make commies out of us.' Aren't they just? To the land-hungry masses in Asia who are our neighbours, ours is a rich country which could support twenty million of them.

To their leaders ours is a civilisation that lacks an ideal. We're ripe for the picking. If you don't believe this, read the speeches of Chou Enlai. Today's international gangsters do us the honour of letting us know well in advance what they're going to do. The only trouble is that we're usually mug enough to think they're bluffing.

How does this affect you?

You should acknowledge now that, if you are a genuine nudist (and by this I mean one who accepts the philosophy of nudism), then you must be valiant for truth. You personally must campaign to see that the principles and rightness and decency prevail.

It is easy for us nudists who are proud of our tolerance of other points of view to let our tolerance go too far until it be-becomes apathy. I think that, in not a few cases, this has already happened. It's easy not to uphold our principles; tomorrow's another day.

But if you're with me this far, you may well ask yow we should uphold our principles without compromising our belief that everyone is entitled to his or her outlook.

 

I would be the last to have you jump into a uniform and run away and get a gun.

No. The answer lies in yourself and the way that you live. If your tolerance and your respect for freedom are alive and dynamic then you will be doing in your way what those incredibly brave but forlorn fighters are doing in Hungary - fighting to keep the human spirit alive in the face of the forces of evil. By becoming a nudist you have won a battle, in many cases over background, upbringing and prejudice to overthrow conventions that seem to you to be worthless. Now you need to call on this same faith that helped you then to come to your aid in this fight that will decide your life and mine will be able to continue in the way that we accept. It will decide whether you will be able to continue to be a nudist. It will decide the future of the human race.

Are you interested - or would you sooner let the other joker do something about it as usual until it's too late to help him?

But what can you actually do?

Firstly and foremost, you can ensure your own personal integrity - if you only live up to your principles when it suits you you give credence to the view that our way of life is effete and decadent.

If you profess a religion, live it. Much of the contempt in which Europeans are held in Asia - and I say contempt advisedly - can be traced to preaching one thing and living another.

Make the democratic system work by taking an active interest in it. This will mean long boring hours at meetings - councils, unions, societies, even nudist clubs. You won't get much thanks for doing it but you will be playing your part in being there to speak and to vote according to your own conscience and not according to someone else's dictation.

If you are in a position on an elected body take the trouble to study the questions on which you are asked to make a decision. You are there for that purpose - not to get a name for yourself for business contacts. The man - or woman - who first looks at his agenda on sitting down at his place ready for discussion should not be there.

Resist any and every move towards regimentation, however disguised. The public servant under the guise of 'efficiency', wants to centralize everything, to draw power into his hands. He knows that most people find it too much trouble to try to stop him. There are good public servants and bad ones. The bad ones are not just those who are incompetent or who take bribes or who cook the books. The really bad ones are those who seek power for its own sake, who forget that the title of their occupation means 'a servant of the public'. They're the people who think that servant in this context means master. They're dangerous because they will serve any master.

Finally, do your bit as a nudist.

Don't just wait for decent weather and then lay yourself out in the sun like a bloated lobster. Nudism is a philosophy - a way of life. It's vital.

Nudism combines the intellectual and physical concepts of freedom. These can rot through your disinterest. Have the courage to see that one of our greatest dangers here in New Zealand is to let our material well being kid us into thinking that all's well with the world and, anyhow, 'it can't happen here'.

Your active support of nudism will be a measure of your belief in democracy. With your support nudism and democracy will win through. If you just sit on the sidelines, you won't have the choice of whether to be a nudist for long.

 

The N.Z.S.A. did not blossom forth either as the product of a united movement nor as the brain child of one or two people accepted with enthusiasm as soon as it appeared. On the contrary, when it was suggested it was denounced as being 'twenty years ahead of its time' at the 4th National Rally in 1956. In November 1956 a further plea was put forward and this had the effect of an invitation to look into the administrative organisation that would be required, the infant finally being delivered after a two- year pregnancy in Christchurch at the 6th National Rally. This is part of an article which appeared in November 1956:

 

NUDISM IN NEW ZEALAND: THE PRESENT     AND THE FUTURE. (The second and third of     two articles.)

Details of proposed Organisation

The core of our suggestion was that the present organisation of nudism in New Zealand should recognise that it has made such a success of publicising nudism that it has become too small for the movement.

There comes a time with every organisation that succeeds when the person who has run it has to go into the corner for a while and think. Problem number one is to get him to do this. If he can be persuaded to do this, then he must think how his business or organisation is doing and whether it is getting all the chances it should. Is he by any chance keeping too much to himself and stopping the show going ahead faster merely because there's a limit to what one man can do, even though he himself might not think so?

We feel that this time has come to the nudist movement. We were criticised at the last National Rally for being twenty years ahead of our time. So might someone at Queen Victoria's funeral have said if it was suggested that people would soon be leaving the ground in heavier-than-air machines.

The very fact that our movement gets on the whole a favourable Press in New Zealand shows that there is a good deal of sympathy, much of it latent and unexpressed but all of it capable of being introduced to nudism in practice. This can best be done by people on the spot backed up by an efficient news information and secretarial service in a central place.

 

If you, whether you are a member of a club or on your own, approach your local paper or other organisations you will bear more weight, because they can see you personally and get to know you, than someone in Wellington. If you get together a committee to tackle this sort of thing you can make it easier for yourself, you can put more total effort into it and, at the same time, you could help out a central office better.

We proposed such a committee in every district where there are nudists. Then we proposed that the office of the National Organiser should be expanded to eight people: a President (the National Organiser) and seven members, each of whom would have a 'portfolio' which would mean, in effect, that every aspect of nudist affairs would receive the full attention of one person, backed up by his local committee anti encouraged by the President.

We saw the President as the co-ordinator of the activities of the 'portfolio' holders, possibly also responsible for such aspects as parliamentary and central government liaison and legal matters. As the portfolio holders would be scattered throughout the country his would be no sinecure.

Before going on to comment on the jobs of the 'portfolio' holders it would be as well to make a point about the distribution of them.

Provincialism is surely one of the greatest weaknesses of New Zealand. Although it is 80 years since government was fully centralised, listening to an Aucklander talking about Wellington or anyone from the three other centres, talking about Auckland one could be forgiven for wondering if this is really so. The nudist movement is as bedevilled by this as other aspects of life and other organisations - to our loss. It was to defeat this antagonism that we envisaged the 'portfolio' holders as being distributed throughout different parts of the country and so able to contribute the views of their part of the country to general discussions as well as getting a country-wide view of their particular aspects of affairs.

This is your big chance to put nudism on the map by introducing big thinking - it's up to you to insist that the management committee directs first that this matter be discussed by a working group and that then this group reports to the business session with its recommendations. Anything less will be tantamount to saying that nudists in New Zealand are dumb from the neck up - are you?

 

The necessity to think and plan ahead is one that is overlooked at peril in any organisation, not least in matters concerning the national organisation of such an insecure interest as naturism - insecure, because it is so peculiarly liable to social pressures which could virtually wipe out the majority of its support overnight.

THE WAY AHEAD. The New Zealand Naturist      No. 22, August 1961.

There comes a time in any organisation when a look ahead is both salutary and necessary. In looking at the way ahead one needs to cast a backward eye on the road that has been travelled so far and also to look at the stage at which we now are.

Personal attitudes inevitably colour one's thinking, therefore it is necessary to state one's attitude to nudism: it is that nudism is a form of relaxation than which few are better and a means of getting healthy physical exercise in pleasant surroundings which, at the same time, assure one's children a morally and mentally healthy upbringing; it falls short of being a way of life (though it could be this in countries where it embraces vegetarianism and so on though this would not embrace me) and it isn't all of life itself.

Now for the road behind. Those who travelled this must have found it rough and stony beyond the imagining of those of us who have come later and benefited from their early work. It is right that one should not forget the work that others have done earlier; it is only too easy to forget it, or slight it or overlook it. But, for the record, New Year 1955 saw the first occasion on which the national Press was invited to visit a naturist camp in New Zealand, the papers so honoured being the N.Z. Herald, Auckland Star, and Truth, and this was at the National Rally held that year in Auckland at Kaurimu under the joint organisation of Kaurimu and A.O.H.C. From then on publicity was more general and radio joined newspaper coverage to the extent that a programme on the main Auckland station, 1YA, excited critical comment in the N.Z. Listener. This Auckland Rally saw, however, the end of a publicity period in that a widely read columnist considered us on our merits as an organisation doing a job; he saw our good points and some of our weaknesses. This in my view, signified an end to the 'nudism is news' period; from now on we are not news unless we do something. We should be glad of this for it marks a step in public acceptance.

By and large the last Rally did not excite much newspaper interest - until we announced the Percy Cousins Trust Fund and its general objectives. Why did this gain favourable publicity? The answer to this is, to my mind, the answer to our way ahead: it showed that we were willing to do something for others, to take a wider view of things.

 

 

What should be our ultimate objective? The abolition of nudist clubs as nudist clubs and the acceptance and tolerance of nudity on beaches where it cannot reasonably offend, as is done in, for instance, the Scandinavian countries, where the person who wishes to bathe naked does so away from the main throng. The public acceptance of nudity should be such that our clubs are an accepted part of the local community pattern, as much as the tennis club and the bowls club. It should be quite natural for our neighbours to wander in for a bathe or a game of tennis in the nude; it should not be necessary for us to apply the rigid screening of new members that we do now; and we should attract new members because of the facilities that we have to offer. Nudist beaches as places set apart for nude bathing would be foreign to this concept since they require segregation where integration should be the policy. Thus it is that I advocate the tolerance of the Scandinavians in a country that is so ideally suited for it.

This, remember, is my personal view of what should lie ahead of us. How do we get there? The key is public acceptance. This takes two forms: general and particular. The particular one, to take the easier first, is local acceptance. Wherever a club member makes friends with a neighbour he has done good; wherever a non-nudist meets a nudist and finds him a good joker nudism has advanced. As Dale Carnegie would have it we must win friends and influence people by being ourselves.

General public acceptance is a bigger hurdle though our tackling of it is helped by all those local friendships. However, the key here is sacrifice. Look at those organisations and societies that are a success, that are vitally alive and playing a role in the community. What do they have in common? Just this; that each is doing something for other people. It may be that some members do hospital visiting or that they help with funds or that they entertain strangers or that they give of themselves for no visible reward in 101 ways. But they give. We don't - yet.

The germ is there - in Canterbury Sun and Health Club inviting an American volleyball team to play them at the club, in the idea that A.O.H.C. had of bagging firewood from felled trees on their property for old people. It is difficult to do this when there's so much to do in our own clubs, so little money to do it, so few people; but do it we must if we are to gain the respect of the community. It's a challenge of the sort we as non-conformists should take up. It's a challenge to us to think of others and to turn aside from those in our movement who want to sit on their behinds and turn their sunburned backs on the rest of the world.

Shall our children find that we were too indolent and selfish to prepare the way to tolerance and public acceptance for them?

Gerald Wakely

 

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INTERNATIONAL NATURIST FEDERATION NEWS

England

It is with delight, akin to amazement, that we learn that the North Kent Sun Club has received its 1,000th applicant for membership.

U.S.A.

A newspaper report from Kansas says the two big Conventions to be held at Sycamore Hollow should attract about 1,500 nudists, representing every state except Alaska. Albert Adams, manager of the Park, said several nations, including Germany, France and Japan will be represented.

 

Since Sycamore Hollow boasts an airstrip, some are expected to come by air.

We hear rumours that the 30-year-old magazine, Sunshine and Health and S. U. N. are to discontinue publication. As pioneers in the field of nudist publications in America, we cannot allow their passing without placing on record our sincere appreciation of the courage and enthusiasm of the publishers, for the fine example they have set and for their refusal to accept defeat.

 

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POINT OF VIEW

Ten years ago there were a few nudist clubs in New Zealand. As far as the general public was concerned they were nonexistent and, if one wanted to find out about them or to join one, one's enquiries would end in a blank unless one read Health & Efficiency. When one penetrated to these hidden away, inward-looking preserves one found that there were people in them who felt that nudism was exportable to the general public, that other people could benefit from it. It was claimed that it was beneficial physically, morally and mentally. It seemed curious that people holding these views, and regarding themselves as a bit different from others since they had been enlightened enough to throw off the constraints of civilisation, should be so unimaginative as not to try to sell their product.

Accordingly, it was suggested that publicity be extended, that the local newspapers be invited to come to the clubs to see for themselves what nudists did. Local reaction to this startling proposal was good. The chance was taken to bring representatives of the Press to a national rally in Auckland. From this lead publicity in other clubs grew till nudism was no longer 'news'.

The motive force for this was the feeling that nudism had something to offer and that it was a force for good. In short, an idealist on the job. Nudism, one felt, should attract people who had open minds on all subjects, people with liberal views. Some of these hopes are reflected in the retrospective writings reprinted in this issue.

Unhappily, one must report that most of these hopes have not materialised. This, I feel, is not unique to New Zealand. The nudist movement seems to have more than its fair share of splits and schisms - Germany, U.S.A. and Britain are some which come to mind right away. One is tempted to generalise. One is tempted to say that nudism attracts people who don't fit in socially elsewhere and that they can't stand up to the pressures of community existence. This is undoubtedly true of some nudists but would be equally true of members of a tennis club or bridge club.

There are, I am sure, missed opportunities. Some of these come from a lack of imagination, others from parochialism. One would like to believe that nudist clubs are conducive to a healthy sex life, for instance. But is this so? In point of fact, official statements would have you believe that nudists are almost asexual; discussion on the subject is taboo. This is sticking one's head in the sand. This is not to argue in favour of sexual licence but a plea that youngsters who are facing sexual as well as other difficulties should feel free to discuss them. According to two recent articles, one Danish, the other American, there is this kind of discussion at clubs in those countries. Why not here?

Parochialism is evidenced in the concern with one's own club or even just the nudist movement to the exclusion of the rest of the community. There is insufficient interest taken in the problems of other organisations or groups of people. Are the difficulties faced in the development of a nudist club so different from those that are met by the members of a sports club? And could both not gain by helping one another? And both gain even more by bringing help with no thought of gain to some groups of citizens such as the disabled? These are the sorts of things that gain acceptance in the community, not building swimming pools or club houses.

Are the right sorts of people being attracted to nudism?

 

What is the criterion: the good that it is reputed to do or the length of the potential member's pocket? Would a childless married couple, living in a desirable suburb and with a new car be seen as more acceptable members than a couple with seven children and a 'bomb'? How are our clubs answering this problem in practice - and if they are passing over the people who could really benefit because they haven't the entrance fee is this really in the long-term interests of the clubs concerned or of the nudist movement as a whole?

Wake up!

Is a nudist club the sort of place where controversy is welcomed? Is it a ferment of ideas and discussion? This surely is essential if the idea is to gain acceptance. The idea itself and the ways in which it is being put over must be subject to constant discussion, experiment and change. The ideas, mark you, not the people who put them over. Nudism needs tolerance in others; it must show an equal tolerance to the outside world and to those within its ranks who disagree. But this tolerance is useless unless it is the tolerance of understanding and involvement, not the head- in-sand attitude that prefers to gloss over things that it doesn't like or doesn't quite understand.

Summing up

After ten years one can, surely, be forgiven for wanting to sum up one's impressions in the hope that it will help others concerned with nudism to think about it.

Is nudism 'a good thing'? Nudism, per se, yes. The naked body is neither indecent nor obscene.

Bathing in the nude should be something that we all do naturally. We should accept that public opinion has some way to go before nudism is acceptable anywhere on a beach; but for someone to walk along to a less frequented part and bathe in the nude, or sunbathe, should be a practice which the community will tolerate. The key is tolerance and common sense. This argues against nudist bathing beaches because these are only doing in reverse what the community now does.

On nudist clubs I have reservations. I think that members should ask themselves such questions as these: Is my club outward looking - is it a part of the local community? Are the leaders of my own, and other, clubs people who are known and respected in the community? Is there evidence of progressive thinking on the problems that face any organisation amongst those who direct its affairs? Is there a genuinely friendly feeling at the club or is the use of first names a veneer under which there is considerable personal animosity? Does nudism itself or our practice of it - provide a common interest on the intellectual level?

I have the feeling that an honest person would give a negative answer to too many of these questions. If this is so, then no real advantage has been taken of the publicity that has been gained over the last few years. To be fully acceptable to the rest of the community nudist clubs should open up. They should seek to become centres for localities not hide-aways.

Imagination, integrity, enthusiasm, a sense of fair play and a liberal outlook are essentials for all who aspire to leadership in the clubs. When I see these qualities in those who direct national and club affairs I will cease to have reservations. I have tried to provide some of these qualities and encouraged others to give of them. It seems unfortunate to me that conformity, parochialism, authoritarianism and apathy weighed too heavily on the other side of the balance.

Gerald Wakely

 

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Talking to Women

Hardly a day passes now without someone making their way to our club grounds to spend a peaceful day there. I myself will be here for eight weeks and I know that already I have felt myself relaxing and not worrying about things like I did up home. It is heavenly not to have to worry about dressing until the sun goes down each night. The children, too, seem more relaxed and are having a great time here.

Getting in touch

In one of my recent articles I mentioned about the families in Blenheim who are interested in nudism although they don't belong to a club. Since then I have received a couple of letters from members of a club and also an interested couple asking if I could introduce them to these families as they could then perhaps form a group of their own. We ourselves who are members of various clubs take it for granted that everybody knows that such clubs do exist but it is amazing the people that I have met who themselves are interested but don't know the first thing about contacting a nudist.

 

Recently at one of our monthly socials I was talking to a couple who have come down here from Hamilton and I asked them did they practice nudism there but they replied that there was no club and they heard of no-one they could contact. Asking their old address I found that they weren't far away from members of the Hamilton Club. What a pity that they hadn't found a way to contact them as they would have been an asset to the club besides they themselves having pleasure from being able to meet the Hamilton crowd.

 

Travelling to the Rally

Within a few short weeks our Annual Rally will again be held. I have heard quite a few of our members discussing their forthcoming trip to Auckland and hear them say, 'Well, we will stay at Fiveacres for a couple of days, then up to Ivan's to say Hello, and perhaps we will get time to call in at Hamilton on the way up or else we can leave them until our return trip'. It is all taken for granted that each and every club will welcome them and so they will for the friendliness in all the clubs is really something worthwhile.

This will be the first Rally that I have missed for some years, but although I won't be there I shall certainly be thinking of you all and wishing wholeheartedly that I could be among you again.

 


                         


 

Sign outside a nudist club: 'Clothed for the winter'.


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The Junior Section

Hullo Teenagers!

This is Philip speaking. From now on all the Junior news will come from me. Will you kids help me in this and send all the news you may have to my address which is on the cover of this magazine? (Not too sure about this, but if it isn't send it c/o Box 6359, Wellington Ed.) So we'll know what each is doing.

Most of the Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington teenagers will know me but I would also like to meet some of the juniors from smaller clubs. Will I see you at the Rally?

I have not yet got the results of the Essay competition so you still might have time but you have to be quick to get an entry in. I also hope that you juniors will attend the coming Rally in big numbers so that we can have competitions for volley ball, swimming, tenniquoits, table tennis and gymnastics. I will be there during the Rally to help the host club with the various activities and outings.

This all the news for now. Till next time.

Philip

 

 

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What's on your mind

(Remember the two Points of View in issue 28 on the subject of children in clubs calling adults by their first names or addressing them as 'Aunty' this or 'Uncle' that? Here's one reader who is quite decided in her views.)

Dear Gerald,

Curse this habit of using 'Aunty'. My vanity bag started to slip into the pool. One of the kids spotted it and yelled. If only he'd screamed 'Janet' instead of wasting time with the 'respectful handle', I'd have been saved the expense of renewing my make-up kit

Yours,                  

Anti-Aunty Janet.

 

 

 


The

NEW ZEALAND NATURIST

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News from the clubs


Auckland Sun Club

Club activities at the grounds have been rather quiet and not overly attended, perhaps because of members' other commitments, in the past few months. Regular members are Al and Julie who have spent each and every weekend out at the club.

Norman Murray came down from his new address at Kohukohu to spend about 10 days at the club and wishes to be remembered to all his acquaintances in the movement.

We can only hope that improvement in the weather will bring more activity and increased attendance. The club has suffered something of a set-back as Jack, one of our most energetic members, has been affected with a 'slipped disc'. All of our members will wish him success in his efforts to get fit again.


Christchurch Sun and Health Club

With the ever-increasing fine days we are seeing more and more faces appearing once again at Pine Glades heralding that another summer is fast approaching.


To: Business Manager,
     "N.Z. Naturist,"
     P.O. Box 6359, Wellington.


 Please send me "N.Z. Naturist" for ........
    issues (7/- for four issues), starting with No. .....

I enclose cheque/M.O./cash for £ ..... / ..... / .....
    (please add exchange outside Wellington).

Name ...........................................................

Address ........................................................

............................................................... (30) 

 

Improvements to the grounds are still being carried out and the trees in and around the area are steadily growing, giving us fairly good screening. New shrubs planted this winter have survived the rabbits and are now making a picturesque display.

Our old hot water system for the showers has been pulled down and a new and permanent one installed. Later, the surrounds will be improved and brick walls will go up around the pipes giving us a drying room. The addition of a washing machine to our ablution block has been a great assistance to the many campers.


Wellington Sun and Health Society

After the wettest, coldest and most miserable winter for many years our members are slowly beginning to awake to a much belated spring - September was the dullest September since 1906, the weather man tells us. Owing to this poor weather very little work has been carried out, although some tree planting and attention to screening growth has been done.

Our most notable event for some time was a Special General Meeting held recently, at which the membership decided to purchase the adjoining property of four acres. The Presidential appeal for funds in the form of loans and donations was truly phenomenal which indicates the members' confidence in their club.

We now await the almost due A.G.M. and we all naturally wonder who will be chosen to carry on the good work of the executive committee. (The N.Z.N.'s pigeon-post from Wellington, via Egmont, Ruapehu, Venus Pool and elsewhere, reports the new line-up: President, David W.; Vice President, Kevin; Secretary, Jack C.; Treasurer, Doug; Committee, Heather, Philip, Gavin.)



PRINTED IN AUCKLAND BY PATRICK DOBBIE

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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.

AUCKLAND OUTDOOR HEALTH CLUB Inc.

P.O. Box 2702, Auckland.

AUCKLAND SUN CLUB Inc.

P.O. Box 2925, Auckland.

KAURIMU SUN CLUB

P.O. Box 20015, Glen Eden, Auckland.

WAIKATO OUTDOOR SOCIETY

P.O. Box 1127, Hamilton.

HAWKE'S BAY SUN CLUB

P.O. Box 551, Napier.

WANGANUI SUN CLUB

P.O. Box 410, Wanganui.

WELLINGTON SUN & HEALTH SOCIETY Inc.

P.O. Box 2854, Wellington.

CANTERBURY SUN & HEALTH CLUB Inc.

P.O. Box 1823, Christchurch.

OTAGO SUN & HEALTH CLUB

P.O. Box 2058, South Dunedin.

SOUTHERN SUN & HEALTH CLUB

P.O. Box 486, Invercargill.

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; to contact them, write to:

N.Z. Sunbathing Association,

P.O. Box 6359, Wellington:

Whangarei

Nelson

Gisborne

Blenheim

Rotorua

Oamaru

Palmerston North

Timaru

Masterton

 

 

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Noted:-

Gerald Wakely: Editorially Speaking; Editors

Gerald Wakely: Retrospect - The Nudist in the Modern World #3 & Nudism In NZ: The Present & the Future

Gerald Wakely: Point of View


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© FBNZ

Photo: Doug Cousins

WS&HC's new pool

Young and not so young, all enjoy the water.

WS&HC's new pool

 

WS&HC's new pool

WS&HC's new pool

Sport of every kind.

WS&HC's new pool

Nudists? Yes... Wellington members...

WS&HC's new pool

on a winter hike in the Tararua Range.

WS&HC's new pool

No sticky bathing costume to worry about -
just dip and dry.

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