#  63 - June 1972 

THE  N.Z.  NATURIST

Editor in Chief

John Gilmour

Business Manager

Arthur Parish

Copy Preparation

Editorial Committee

Advertising Representative

Barry Hill

Editorial Office

P.O. Box 2925, Auckland

President

Gavin Robieson, Palmerston North

Vice-Presidents
 

Jock Shoolbread, Auckland
Geoff Allen, Christchurch

Secretary-Treasurer

Joan Treanor, Wellington

Public Relations Officer
& Overseas Correspondent

Jeff Hatfield, Wellington

Youth Organiser

Charles Monod, Wellington

Women's Representative

Gaynor Robieson, Palmerston North

Delegates representing all clubs

editorial

The principal function of a newspaper today is to report the news as it happens, accurately. Articles, advice columns, recipes, comic strips, social comment and the rest, all come secondary to this.

Too often, newspapers today depart from the facts or stretch them in order to create sensational "news". It is not uncommon to see quotations taken from their original context and used in such a way that their meaning is altered completely.

Recently an article appeared in one of the Sunday papers making a comparison between the January issue of Playboy magazine and the December issue of the New Zealand Naturist. This article was devoid of all truth. The paper had printed what it assumed was fact without making any effort to check the details first, thus, by publishing what proved to be inaccuracies it was possible to make some cheap sensationalism at the expense of honesty and common sense.

The article in question implied that the New Zealand Naturist is more likely to corrupt the young mind than Playboy magazine because of the "completely unobscured male frontal nudes" in the Naturist.

I wrote a long letter to the editor of the paper concerned pointing out their errors and explaining that if, in fact, either magazine was likely to corrupt, (and I very much doubt whether either magazine would corrupt even the most gullible and corruptible among us) it certainly would not be the Naturist.

I received in reply a very short apology from the editor of the paper.

Below is reproduced my letter to the paper. The words set in bold type were deliberately omitted by the paper and if you read the letter without these words you will see an example of how misquoting can alter the meaning.

Dear Sir,

I was disappointed to see a decline in your usual standard of reporting in your article "We're being attacked on all fronts!" - Page 3, Sunday News, 20th February.

Firstly - because you had the facts wrong, and secondly - because your comparison between Playboy and the New Zealand Naturist showed a particular lack of good taste and common sense.

Your article stated that the Indecent Publications Tribunal had restricted the sale of January Playboy to the over 18 age group - Wrong! The distributors of Playboy (Gordon and Gotch) had recommended that booksellers restrict their sales pending the decision of the tribunal.

Your article stated that the reason for the submission of the January Playboy to the tribunal was because the centre gatefold showed a natural nude - wrong again! The tribunal is concerned with the magazine as a whole, with particular reference to the interview with women's liberation spokeswoman, Germaine Greer.

The issue was referred to the tribunal at the request of the Customs Department, mainly because of the "outspoken" language used by Germaine Greer during the interview.

In your article you "just wonder which is more likely to corrupt the young mind." Certainly not the New Zealand Naturist. You will not find the same "outspoken" language in the Naturist, nor the same type of provocative poses in the photographs. If, in fact, either publication was likely to corrupt, one would have to look, not to the pictorial content, but to the text.

Another example of bad reportage came from the readers' advice column of another paper when some anxious parents wrote to ask what action they should take about their teenage daughter who wanted to join a nudist club. The parents were horrified at the prospect and needed some reassurance. The advice they received through the medium of the newspaper was to the effect that nudists were a lot of cranks and not to entertain the idea under any circumstances. It would have been a lot better had the adviser taken the time to find out something about nudist clubs before giving any reply since it was obvious that she knew absolutely nothing about nudism or what it stands for.

New Feature

In this issue we are introducing a regular feature to give you something to do while lazing in the sun, so take a pencil along with you next time you go to the club and have a go at our crossword, there is no prize for getting it right. The answer will be published in the next issue. 

John H. Gilmour

Message from the Business Manager of the New Zealand Naturist

I would like to reiterate the announcement I made in the N.Z.S.A. notes of the March issue regarding payment for photographs. Our Editor informs me that the response has been good so far but he still has money available for good photographs. So here's your chance to make some extra money before the holidays start. The fees payable for your photographs are $25 for any picture reproduced on the front cover; $20 for any other full page colour shot used; $10 for a full page black and white photograph; and $2 for any other black and white picture used.

This offer applies to everybody who reads this magazine, not just club members.

We are now selling the New Zealand Naturist in eighteen countries but we are still in need of distributors or agents for many of these countries, so if you would like to become an agent write to me at P.O. Box 40-482, Upper Hutt.

Our distribution at present exceeds 20,000 copies per issue and the subscribers number approximately 2,000. Naturally this entails a considerable amount of correspondence but I do endeavour to answer all letters within 24 hours (excluding weekends and holiday periods, of course), so if you don't hear from me within a reasonable period write again, as I do have letters that I am unable to answer because of insufficient address or for various other reasons.

In closing, may I take this opportunity to thank all of you for your letters expressing good wishes to the movement. We realise that many of you can never join us but we do sincerely thank you for your support.

Arthur Parish

DEADLINE

FOR

SEPTEMBER ISSUE

20th JULY

give
up
photography

How many times have you felt this way lately? Are you constantly dogged by shocking results and lack of ideas, or do you find yourself browsing through magazines by the score trying to duplicate other people's work? If you haven't you are just not human.

If you do, and are honest with yourself, you have but three courses open to you.

THE FIRST - give it up - well, for a couple of days or even a couple of weeks maybe. Should you be thinking of giving it up permanently I myself cannot see how you ever thought of photography in the first place! Some people take it as a job only and I think, find themselves in a rut in no time at all. I have been a professional photographer for many years, taking exactly what other people want, but come weekends and holidays I take what I want and still enjoy it much to the amazement of many of my colleagues.

What I mean by giving it up is, leave your camera at home, go out for a trip or walk or even try your hand at fishing, skiing, climbing or just plain tramping. I guarantee you will see pictures galore, in fact everywhere you look - you will be kicking yourself for not thinking of it before. You may even catch yourself unconsciously screwing up your eyes and framing everything in sight.

THE SECOND suggestion - break completely away from the old routine and subjects you usually stick to and try shooting something different. When was the last time you tried night scenes, still life or landscape? For instance, in one club I frequented for many years, there was one particular gentleman who was classed as more than good with portraits and the skilful use of flood and spotlights. Whenever he exhibited, you could see his prints standing out from all the others, you could practically read his name right across them. This went on for quite a while, honour after honour, then it started dropping to just the plain old acceptance, and then to him not even putting anything in. He was running out of the type of models that he wanted and what is more he just couldn't care. Then it happened - I went to his place one Sunday morning to ask his advice on a subject, and was informed by his wife that he had finally gone quite mad. I asked her to say that again and she pointed to the bottom of the garden where I saw our 16-stone friend kneeling, bottom in the air and nose to the ground peering through the view-finder of a camera. When I asked what he was doing he simply said:

"You'll see next club night" and sure enough, the honours started coming his way again with sets of prints showing blades of grass in various patterns and designs. He had certainly tried something different!

THE THIRD method - forget all your secret, pet formulae and favourite film and make a complete new start. Those films you knew and did not like a few years ago have really gone through a great change.

Then again, are you certain you haven't been a bit over-sure of yourself - chemical temperatures too high or too low, or was it really as recommended? What about agitating your tank, do you shake it as though mixing cocktails or just let it sit and stew? When fixing, especially with the new types of rapid fixer there is a tendency to over-fix - thus bleaching out some of that fine detail. I've found out the hard way that the film and paper manufacturer's don't spend millions on research to find the best developers for their own products for nothing. Besides, there are good wages to be earned if you really think you are a good chemist.

-John R. Miller

history
of the
northern
sunseekers

Two years ago the Northern Sun Seekers Club was almost on its knees. It suffered a crushing blow in the loss of its grounds and the departure from Whangarei of two or three of its keenest families seemed the last straw.

When we lost Maruakoa we had nowhere to go, and advertising had little effect. The club's long search for grounds is recounted in another story, but it was not until Sunday, February 22, this year that we found a new home. Today the club is firmly settled in new grounds, membership is around 100 and still increasing and morale has never been better.

The remarkable thing was that members retained their interest and enthusiasm during that long period, when the best we could manage was one trip to the beach (it rained and the beach wasn't very private), occasional visits to the Auckland clubs, and the odd meeting and table tennis evening.

Right from the beginning attendances at the new grounds have been good, a lot of the work being done by members who have joined since we lost Maruakoa.

The club's first meeting was held in September 1966, although it had been in existence as an informal group for some time before that. Originally the few scattered nudist families in Whangarei used to sunbathe privately, on picnic trips and on visits to their home clubs in Auckland. About this time a columnist with the Northern Advocate, touring the north, came across a party of Auckland nudists camping on private land, spent the day with them, and wrote enthusiastically about the experience. It was not long after this that Northern Sun Seekers was formed.

Membership gained steadily but unspectacularly, and there was no permanence about things at that time. Maruakoa was leased at a ridiculously low rate but the tenancy was year-to-year and thus no building could be done. On reflection, losing those grounds may have been the best thing that could have happened to the club. The club has the new grounds for 10 years, and with a friendly and co-operative farmer-landlord, the tenancy might be extended even further. Alternately, the club could use the 10-year period to save furiously, and thus have enough money to buy its own property at the end of that time.

As things stand now, the club can plan ahead with a reasonable degree of confidence and this is reflected in the attitude of the members; there is a feeling of permanence.

The club's new grounds, as yet unnamed, are about the same distance from town as Maruakoa was. Again we have the inconvenience of a metalled road, although there is a good chance that at least some of this will be sealed in the not-too-distant future. The new grounds are much more sheltered than Maruakoa

was and thus will be much hotter. Access can be a problem after a long spell of rain, although we will be able to do something about this later on - there is a metal quarry not too far away.

Wildlife abounds at the new grounds. The farmer won't allow a gun on the place, and thus we often see pheasants, pigeons and quail, as well as the odd trout. Native bush comes right down to the creek, which is lined with ferns. One of our members, Joy, has volunteered to take the children on nature rambles, and no doubt these will prove very popular next summer.

It is also likely that we will see a lot of visitors from other clubs, for we have a wide range of attractions within a few minutes drive from the grounds - a surfing beach, sheltered beaches for the children, pony rides, miles of sheltered waterway for the canoe fans, all types of fishing, a licensed hotel and motels.

At the grounds themselves we have the pool, 36 feet by 15 feet and icy cold, a large area for camping and, so far, one volleyball court. Next season we will make provision for miniten and teniquoit, so we should be well set up as far as sport goes. We are also building a couple of fireplaces and a barbecue is planned. Our pride and joy is our "new" clubhouse. This building, of about 400 square feet, was donated by Gary and Sharon and could mark a turning point in the club's history. We knew there was a possibility of the building - a camping ground cabin - becoming available but not when.

Then suddenly, it was available, but had to be shifted - and fast. We stripped the roof off on Friday afternoon, sawed the walls into sections on the Saturday, and started carting with two trucks provided by members on Sunday morning.

By mid-day Sunday the shift was completed, and the club grounds were littered with mountains of timber and iron. However the pace didn't slacken - about eight or nine willing blokes immediately started digging in the foundations. If anything the pace was too hectic we found we were a foot out in one line of blocks, and one whole section of floor, when it was subsequently dropped into place, was found to be six inches higher than the rest!

The ladies played their part too. While the men were digging furiously, they kept themselves busy pulling out nails, etc., and generally restoring order, as well as providing drinks and eats.

It was nearly dark when the last section of floor was dropped into its correct place and the slave gang stood back to admire their work. It really was a mighty effort. The building, though small, was very strongly and heavily constructed. For example, the entire roof under the iron was covered with 6" x 1" sarking, as were all the walls.

The following Sunday, work continued almost as though there had not been a week's pause, except that numbers were down somewhat.

We were rather fortunate that two country member families, plus Alan and Lucy from AOHC, chose that very day to visit us. With them we had just enough men to manhandle the heavy wall sections into place and secure them. By the end of the day all the major walls were standing, and the mountain of component parts had been reduced to a mole hill.

Photo: J. Gilmour    

The following weeks were employed in getting the roof on, replacing rotten weatherboards, rebuilding one wall completely and painting. Gary, the donor, was a tower of strength during this period, spending as much as three days a week working on the building, with other members spending almost as much time there.

Socially, things have been quieter than usual. The club went to Auckland for the annual sports day (although we weren't able to take much part in the activities, due to late arrivals). Then there were the usual holiday visitors, including two relative newcomers to the movement - Barry and Helen, of AOHC. Their donation for the use of our facilities was very practical - they spent half a day scraping and painting a large section of the clubhouse. And a darned good job they made of it, too.

Other welcome visitors included our editor, John, and Barry and their families from Auckland Sun. However, John's gloomy claim that he's a Jonah, weather wise, proved all too correct. Worse, the fish flatly refused to bite, and the best Barry could land was a three-foot eel from the creek below the swimming pool. Better luck next time, perhaps.

Finally, our club became fully affiliated to the NZSA at the last AGM, and while we were not able to get to Christchurch for the occasion, we will be at Auckland in full force for the next rally.

So with membership growing and work proceeding apace, Northern Sun Seekers can look to the future with a good deal of confidence.

Above: Some new flooring at the doorway and the floor was complete. The donor, Gary, is at right.

Below: The building which became our clubhouse.

Above: "Come on you blokes, PUSH. You've got two inches to go".

just
ordinary
people

For many years now I have been a keen and enthusiastic supporter of the sunbathing movement, but like a great many others, I am deprived of membership by the views of my life's partner.

I know that there are many others in a similar position as myself, but something happened recently to me, which compels me to put my pen to paper. Perhaps it might help someone who may be in doubt, whether or not to join a sun club; someone who may be holding back through their own doubts and misgivings.

I was one of the many who saw the televised film of the Palmerston North Sun Club at home on their grounds near Himatangi. More so, at a later date I was talking with one of my friends, a member of the television crew who filmed the programme. For his sake let us call him Mr X.

Mr X has always been sceptical of nudist behaviour and very outspoken about these "queers" who go strutting about in the nude showing themselves off, so to go out with a T.V. team to their grounds was the greatest joke of all. But the joke didn't last. Let me quote part of my conversation with Mr X who was totally unaware of my interest in nudism.

"When we were on our way out there we kept joking about them and saying what odd bods they were.

"But they're not, Gordon, they are just like you and me. This is their way of life.

"I was thoroughly embarrassed when we got there, and kept my eyes riveted on their faces and nowhere else.

"Strangely enough, within ten minutes I forgot all about the fact that they had nothing on, and it didn't matter where we looked. We lost all our misgivings and embarrassment.

"They mixed readily with us and spoke freely of their interests.

"Many of them joined to give their kids a healthier outlook on life, with no mysteries - and I think they have got something there.

"Some didn't undress: this is apparently one of their rules. They don't have to unless they want to.

"This way of sun bathing was their piece of cake, but not mine. I wouldn't want to join them, but now since I have seen them, I can see nothing wrong with them or with what they are doing.

"They are just ordinary people enjoying the sun, and probably a lot of good will come out of it.

"Speaking as a family man, I think it must overcome the problem of sex difference with growing kids and stop a lot of the dirt they can pick up.

"But it was a funny thing about that embarrassment.

"And I'll tell you another thing, Gordon, after it was all over and our job was finished, we didn't want to leave and come home - strange wasn't it, when we weren't over keen to go in the first place. They were such a friendly lot."

So you see, Palmerston, the effect of your programme is more far-reaching than just an item on television. Congratulations to you and I hope that together with the programme and the comments written here, some doubtful would-be members will join this sun loving movement.

Gordon Viles

our
european
trip

When we visited the North Kent Club in July 1971, we were recommended to visit what they called their French counterpart.

So when we crossed the Channel by ferry boat at the end of July, we headed for Paris and in particular for "Relais Gymnique International du Club de Soleil" in Carrières-sur-Seine. This club is only a quarter of an hour by car from the centre of Paris. The entrance to it is something completely different to what we are used to in our Nudist clubs. We arrived in Carrières in the late afternoon. It is a village with narrow winding streets and completely built up with old houses of sandstone. We thought we had been misinformed, but, after some enquiries we were guided to a narrow passage between houses which were dug out of the sandstone.

The passage became narrower and finished in a sort of tunnel in the rock. At the end, we opened a small wooden door and there we were suddenly in the open, in the centre of the Club du Soleil. I can recommend anybody to go there. In the first place we were received by the most friendly people and then there was the historical background of the site. The club is built in an old stone quarry. The sandstone was used for the local church and for repairs to the Notre Dame. The clubrooms, the kitchen, the bar and the caretakers' flat are all built in the sandstone caves. We also found a 300-year-old wine press. The club is completely surrounded by houses, flats and a girls' school and still has all the facilities of a sun club in complete privacy. We spent a most enjoyable two days there while visiting Paris. Later, we called in again before leaving for England.

For a New Zealander who visits the Continent for the first time, it is a world he has got to get used to as far as his manners are concerned. Members of a club who see each other again after a week in the office, greet each other with handshakes as if they have not seen each other for years. Not doing so is not polite.

From Paris we took the big motorway to Lyon and the Mediterranean. This motorway goes uninterrupted through the country with a minimum of three lanes each way. Certainly a quick way to cross France.

In Lyon we arrived fairly late. It was hard to find the "Centre Gymnique de la Regnière", but once there, we were welcomed by the caretaker and later the president. As is often the case with French clubs, the caretaker's wife had a little business on her own and served hot or cold meals a la carte, which proved popular after a long trip or for that matter after a lazy day. We accepted this facility with many thanks. Any ideas for our N.Z. clubs? The layout of this club was very interesting. Most members had their own bach with a garden around it. The gardens were usually well looked after with flowers and shrubs. It was like walking through a little village with community facilities. In the morning, the local baker-milkman-grocer drove his van into the middle of the camp, sounded his horn a few times and started his business with the camp inhabitants. A well appreciated service.

From Lyon we proceeded to Avignon. We would have liked to stay longer in ancient Avignon with its ring wall around the city and its narrow streets, just wide enough with careful manoeuvring for the width of the car. However, our tight tour schedule did not allow it and we proceeded to Manosque. There we looked for the local club which was well recommended to us. After a long search we decided to ask the local police for the "Club Naturiste". After a lot of talking backwards and forwards the police told us that there was no such club near Manosque and directed us to a local motor camp. The next morning we discovered that the motor camp was only three kilometres away from the nudist club! The police did not even know of its existence.

From Manosque we went to Nice via the Gorge de Verdon. They call it the Grand Canyon of Verdon. It was probably the most exciting day we had on our trip as far as scenery is concerned. The narrow winding road along sheer drops to the river valley hundreds of metres below, through road tunnels, along lavender fields with their roadside stalls, is all still very alive in our memory.

In Nice we stayed with the "Club de Nice-Observatoire". It is situated half way up a high hill overlooking Nice. As with most French clubs which cater for travelling nudists, the roads leading to the club were well signposted. A small restaurant was open and well equipped bungalows were for hire.

From Nice we proceeded via Monaco to the Italian border and along the Routes d'auto through the North of Italy to Breccia. These motorways are something to be experienced. If we were not driving through a tunnel, we were driving over a high viaduct. In Breccia we stayed in a "textile camp" as a motor camp is called among nudists in Europe. Here we really appreciated the nudist camps, with their clean swimming pools and clean ablution blocks. From Breccia we went to Venice where we admired the fading remnants of the glorious past of this magnificent town.

Our next goal was Yugoslavia. As long as you stay on the main roads everything is nicely tarsealed, but I won't advise you to venture on a detour. We arrived early in the afternoon in Proec and proceeded to "Laterna". As with all Yugoslavia's nudist resorts, it is state-run and is part of their overall planning for tourists. It consists of three parts: the "textile camp" for motorists, a luxury hotel and the nudist accommodation. All are well separated from each other. We were invited to have a look around. Everything looked very hew with bungalows for hire and groups of small trees where you could park your car or erect a tent. The sea shore was a flat, rocky one, with small pebbly beaches in between rocks and made a very pleasant impression. We decided to stay but when we heard from the management that we had to surrender our International passports for the duration of our stay, we refused. (Nobody is interested in nudist international passports, everybody can visit these camps.) Later we learned that this is the law of the land wherever you are staying, and when we arrived later in the afternoon in Koversada near Vrsar we handed our passports over at the camp entrance with very mixed feelings. What would happen to the thousands of tourists in case of fire at the office, I do not know. All the passports are neatly stacked away in pigeonholes on the other side of the counter. You get them back after you have paid your bill.

Koversada stretches for several miles along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Originally it was limited to a short stretch of coast with an island opposite, which is the only place where you can camp under the pines and can only be reached by boat. The rest of the camp provides little shade which is not too good when the day temperatures are near the hundred fahrenheit. We parked our station wagon close to the seafront so that we did not have to look at the thousands of other cars, tents or caravans. To reach the sea we had to climb carefully over sharp rocks. However, here and there these rocks were flattened and a sort of platform created to reach the sea. These were, of course, very popular. Once in the water, it was heaven, after the sweltering heat of the land. The water was as clear as you can imagine. In the camp were two supermarkets and two cafés. It was a funny sensation to shop around in the supermarket, gathering our necessities in a basket or trolley, then proceeding to the cashiers to pay, and all in our standard nudist costume. The incongruous part that amused us was that all the employees in the supermarket and cafe were all very well dressed! In the café, alcoholic beverages were sold at night to a background of soft folk music, while in the well-equipped restaurant a band played dance music.

After two days we left the place, richer in experience but also firmly decided not to come back. The immense crowd assembled there, amongst whom you did not know a soul, without the friendly atmosphere of our club, commercialisation from souvenir shops, to pay as you play sport, did not endear us to the place. The lovely water of the Adriatic was the only highlight of our whole stay. One positive thing that we learned from it is that a gathering of nudists of this size can take place without any incidents, although only half of them belong to regular sun clubs. Opponents to free beaches, please note.

From Koversada we went over the Alps through the Felbertauern tunnel to Innsbrück in Austria. We found the nudist camp, but being a weekday nobody was there and the gate was locked, so we had to spend our night again in a "textile camp".

After looking around in this beautiful city we proceeded to Zurich in Switzerland. We were more than welcome at "Schonhalde" of the Zuricher Lichtkreis. The grounds are laid out in terraces with mushroom-like night lights everywhere. It was like a fairyland at night. A table with drinks and food was laid out. Under the stars with the constant kling-klang from the cattle bells next door, we had a most interesting exchange of ideas in spite of language difficulties. There was one member who could speak English and I had to dig up my German which is again different from the Swiss-German. But we managed quite well. The club belonged to a group of naturists who had a rule of no smoking, no alcohol and no meat. However, that only applied to the club grounds and what you wanted to do outside was your, business. I would have liked to have stayed a few days but my wife was anxious to know how the children were behaving while staying with their grandparents in England, and if they were longing for Mum and Dad. When we arrived back two days later (after spending another night in our Paris club), the greeting from the kids was one glance away from the T.V. set and a "Hi Mum and Dad, Shhh the T.V. is interesting"!!

Photo: D. Larby

Photo: J. Gilmour    

letters
to the
editor

The Pubic Image

Dear Sir,

As a supporter and occasional attender of sun clubs, I am obviously well-disposed to the movement and all it stands for. My reason for being interested in the first place was that, as an amateur artist of the old-fashioned school, I am interested in nudes, and anatomy. This being so, I can't help but feel that the shaven females who are in preponderance in most "nudist" magazines do not improve the nudist image, and can do nothing but harm to the movement.

Also, the pre-occupation of some of your writers (letter writers), with pubic areas, male and female, is bound to give your readership a vastly wrong impression of the whole idea and aims of nudism. I think that statistics will prove that most of your readers would be non-members of any club, but get the magazine to see what they can see. This is fair enough they buy "Playboy" for the same reasons but don't let them distort the objectives of our clubs.

We all know, or should do, that it is the outsiders to the movement who are the avid readers of rape cases, sex assaults, muggings, crime, homos, et al. It is also the "outside press" which keeps such cases constantly before us, the smuttier the better from a circulation point of view. None of the aforesaid gets a mention in nudist publications. The "voyeurs" and "Peeping Toms" are all outside the movement ... the "normal people".

I personally have not much objection to the photographs from my own point of view, having probably seen as much as most males in the back streets of Cairo thirty years ago, in the days when pornography was the forté of the Egyptians and the French.

The preponderance of beautiful young ladies, although very attractive, gives the impression that every nudist camp is peopled by clean-shaven ladies of every nationality, and would not encourage the too fat, or too thin (which includes most of us), to give it a go.

It is clubs outside the movement whose members remark on any physical peculiarity. The old finger-in-the-stomach trick, "aren't you putting the beef on, eh?" This I have never heard in a nudist camp.

There was a classical case of the behaviour of non-nudists in Auckland some twelve months ago, at an all-male get-together of an Auckland squash club, complete with strip teasers. It ended with scenes reminiscent of a Roman orgy. The average nudist has more respect for the human body than to put on a public exhibition.

It is only a year since the "New Zealand Naturist" plucked tip enough courage to use natural photographs, whether of men, women, or children; the Australians are still retouching all their photos as far as I know, and still use black squares in the "outside press".

It will be fifty years at least before the type of pictures you are showing will be acceptable over there. Don't spoil the nudist image for the sake of circulation.

In closing, at a rough estimate, there are thirteen clubs in Australia which have anything like a reasonable attendance. That is one club for every million people. We are still a minority group, don't let us dwindle to nothing by giving a wrong image. More than any other clubs, we have to watch it.

John H. Worth

(Top)

Free As Air

Sun on my skin
In the soft summer mornings,
With the rustle of trees and the murmur of streams;
Sun on my face
In the cool summer evenings,
With the challenge of birds in the sun-setting beams;
Naked and free
From the trappings of cities,
Richly responding to shimmering air;
Taint and pollution
Far hours behind me,
Breathing contented, uncluttered and bare:
This is the freedom
The body vibrates to;
This is the cleansing the city denies;
With bronzing companions
Laughing and leaping,
With health in their limbs and joy in their eyes;
Thus is the spirit
Purged and refurbished,
When body and soul are no longer apart;
Nude in assertion
Of life recreated,
Naked and nearer to nature's own heart.

Ben Trovato (A.O.H.C.)

(Top)

Naturism

Here is a remedy for social ills -

Ills of the body, starved for lack of sun.

Here in this quiet glade, where sunshine spills

Its wealth of goodness, free for everyone

To take its precious warmth, and taking, find

New peace and health and love of fellow-men

Women and children. With a new clean mind

We can take heart, and start to live again!

The water of the pool is rainbow-hued,

Misted by spray from happy, carefree forms

Disporting in some game. as lovely, nude

They wage their water-war, amid the storms

Of laughter and encouragement from those

Who gather round to watch the harmless fun -

And praise the merry strugglers at the close,

Who now lie resting 'neath the glowing sun.

This is no life where sniggering, sordid jest

Of "Nakedness", and "Sex", disfigure speech,

Of those who think old-time conventions best -

While all the time this freedom's in their reach!

Their eyes beholding what their hearts desire,

Clean human bodies. lovely, naked, true;

Are straightaway cleansed from that old, evil fire

Of curious frustration once they knew

This is the Better Life! Mankind forgets

All human beings are his natural kind.

True culture, grace and kindliness, still lets

All social classes mingle mind with mind.

Where class - distinctions, snobbery, cruel pride

Are scorned as petty, sordid, out-of-place;

There you will find all mankind side by side

A better, truer, purer human race!

John Horsfield

Photo: D. Larby

Prejudiced?

Dear Sir,

My wife and I have been members of a nudist club for some years now.

It has come to my notice that a new single man is about to join us and it's through my job that I and others are aware that he is a homosexual.

We are most concerned that this type of person should he able to enter this movement. Such a person would represent a threat to an established security offered to the members of all sun clubs throughout New Zealand.

My wife and myself would resign if such a person was admitted,

Concerned

Dear Sir,

In congratulating our staff and yourself on the superb new style N.Z. Naturist magazine, may I suggest a way in which the production may be even further improved. I consider that the inclusion of a colour photograph of a group, or person in a swimming pool for instance, would be even better than the colour photograph on page 28 (March 1972) N.Z.N. Or better still a beach scene.

Trusting some readers derived beneficial results from the arm stretching exercise your magazine (Dec. 1971) contained after my submission of same.

How about this one?

Lie on tour back on the floor and put feet up on a chair or stool. Try to raise your mid-portion of body to a straight position. See how you go! I enjoy this one and feel rejuvenated by this not too strenuous little exercise.

Sun-Tan-Sam (Canterbury)

Photo: Norris Lurker

nudist
youth
club

The Wellington Rally promised to be another of those rallies filled with fun, sun and the occasional highlights that can only happen at a rally, but intermingled amongst this were the often loud cries of "I've nothing to do."

Such was the beginning of N.Y.C. (Nudist Youth Club). The youth at the rally, wanting sonic highlights of their own, gathered around the man doomed to be their leader and whole-heartedly accepted his suggestion that they should form a group.

Charles suggested that the youth organisation be based on the system used by clubs in England, whereby each club in the country has their own youth representatives.

The nucleus for this group consisted of representatives from Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Hawkes Bay, Wanganui, Waikato and Auckland, from which were elected a president, secretary and treasurer.

The group worked along the same lines as their own home club by paying a membership fee of $1.00, entitling them to a monthly newsletter and a membership card, which was also based on the British Youth Clubs own card. Everything was done under meeting formalities, and the executive (consisting of president, secretary, treasurer and club delegates from each club) finalised all points, major and minor, that arose.

Because of the major problem of distance, N.Y.C. did not stage its first trip away until May, 1971 which proved to be highly successful. No doubt many of you will have read Charles' account of the Ruapehu trip in the magazine and hope you were impressed by the enthusiasm of this group.

An executive meeting in August brought about the beginning of a constitution for N.Y.C., along with several ideas from the pleasing number of delegates who were able to attend. The youth rally was discussed, the venue having been decided at the original meeting in December 1970 - January 1971, and the plans were made for the entertainment of the youth - one of the basic reasons for forming N.Y.C.

The youth rally at Fiveacres in December, 1971 brought a surprising number from all over New Zealand, all anxious to do their own nudist thing - and by the time the rally concluded, proved that they were able to. The annual meeting was held and a letter sent forward to be heard at the annual meeting of the N.Z.S.A.

Consequently, January 1st, 1972, not only brought about a new year, but the total recognition of N.Y.C. as a separate club under the guidance of the N.Z.S.A. Now, N.Y.C. is a club in its own right, may recruit its own members, may possess its own bank account and charge club fees, and its membership card can be recognised as an acceptable form of identification.

In our book this was the time to celebrate and celebrate we did! A few newly inspired members of N.Y.C. unexpectedly turned up at the main rally [our apologies for this] to be greeted by members of the South Island N.Y.C., who until now, had drifted almost in oblivion.

With the rain keeping us cool from the blazing Wellington sun, and with all formal procedures over, we settled down for four days of fun in the sun.

Monday brought a variety of suggestions and subsequently a few of the unsuspecting members left valiantly for the Tararuas, whilst a larger number braved horses, unbuckled girths, and the Wainui dust. Those remaining tested the loading capacity of a Triumph Vitesse, and aimed towards the bright lights of town.

The Tararua trampers returned, with June Baby clutching certificate of hike in hand.

The following day was spent wallowing alternately in the club pool and the Wellington sunshine - a pleasant change from the former hectic life.

Wednesday brought about a dramatic change in weather, so a cultured few furthered their education in the museum, whilst the less fortunate observed the slums of the city. As the weather eased, Kaitoke was the venue for a barbecue, where one or two fought back at the icy water.

By this time, the group had diminished somewhat, but the remaining few brought the 1971 Youth Rally to a successful close.

The waters of Cook Strait did not deter the more determined and after most had recovered from the excursions of the last few days, they drifted one by one on to the national rally at Pineglades, to be confronted by yet more youth.

From here came the beginnings of the more stable foundation for the Nudist Youth Club.

With a firm core of keen members, supporters and believers, the N.Y.C. emblem was splashed merrily across the swimming pool. Congratulations to those young members in the finals, who were recognised without too much trouble, and to Cherie, who carried off the Doug Cousins trophy on behalf of the young nudists.

Now a separate club, N.Y.C's enthusiasm to enter teams in all sports was rewarding, if not victorious. Not wanting to blotch the Auckland Sun Club volleyball record, we gave in gracefully, but the North Island youth turned the tables on the South Island youth in a rousing and well supported game. It seems that with that terrific burst of energy, N.Y.C. was totally exhausted, and the rest of the rally was passed in peace and tranquility.

Our thanks go to Charles, our National Youth Organiser, to all our separate club organisers, to all the N.Z.S.A. members who helped N.Y.C. to their fullest extent, to Fred, our official photographer, to Joe and Barry for enduring our antics, and lastly to the Canterbury Club, our host, for a most rewarding and cheering stay.

Kathy, N.Y.C.

Youth Liaison Officer

Photos: Mike, Wnui S.C. 

notes
for
shutterbugs

Have you ever sat down to an evening's slide viewing knowing that you have plenty of slides that would be 'just perfect" for the mag?

John and I have just finished looking at 150 "just perfect" slides and would you believe it, there were only three good enough to use.

To all you shutterbugs contemplating submitting your slides to us for use in the magazine here are a few points on taking them:

1. 2¼ square or larger is best but 35mm and half-frame can be used as long as all of the following check out.

2. Slides must be sharp.

3. Frame your picture. Did you know that this magazine size is directly proportional to 35mm so fill the whole slide with your subject. Turn your camera on its side to take your picture as most of our pictures are verticals. For 2¼ fans, set a copy of our magazine up in front of your camera and move in on it until it fills your viewfinder. You'll find that one way it's 2¼ but the other way only about 1½. I've seen numerous slides that were excellent in exposure and subject but could not be used as they wouldn't crop either horizontally or vertically to fit our page size.

4. Compose and check your picture for unwanted background etc. before pressing the shutter release. Colour slides cannot be doctored like black and white prints to remove unwanted parts. One slide that comes to mind was a terrific picture of one of our lady club members and could have been the best ever seen in this magazine except for one thing, right behind her, in the background were the remains of a derelict outside toilet.

5. Normal exposure isn't good enough for reproduction. This is the one case where underexposure is best. It gives good rich deep tones that reproduce well. To help you we suggest you underexpose somewhere between half and one full stop.

6. Enclose a copy of model release signed by all subjects appearing in the picture.

If you have followed all these points you had better add your full name and address as well as your nom de plume when submitting your slides as we will need it when making out your cheque.

Barry Hill

ACROSS

 1. Frontier of a territory
 4. Official position
 9. Medicinal tablet
10. Yawned
11. Preserve
12. Small house
13. Papal court
14. A score
16. Examines
18. Mineral
20. Expands
21. Slap
24. Surfers Paradise
25. Revenge seeker
26. Measure
27. Defied

DOWN

 1. Spite
 2. Sharp instrument
 3. Search
 5. Runaway
 6. Insert
 7. Furnished
 8. Widow's Right
13. Border
15. Minors
17. Subjected to friction
18. Film award
19. Put by
22. Bet
23. Lifeless

book
review

"Nudist Society" by William E. Hartman, Ph.D., Marilyn Fithian and Donald Johnson. First published in August, 1971 by Avon Books Division of The Hearst Corporation, New York.

The Long Bay Beach State College Foundation (California) granted the initial funds for a nudist research project and in 1966-1967 the senior author was given a semester's leave with full pay by the College. This research project was done with the full co-operation of the American Sunbathing Association.

The book does not only handle statistics about the American Nudist, it gives a very good historical description of the growth of nudism from the first nudist publication in 1903, "Die Nacktheit" by Ungewitter and the first nudist resort by Paul Zimmerman "Freilight Park" near Klingberg, Germany. A chapter describes the reactions in Europe and the founding of nudism in America in 1920 by Kurt Barthel. A very extensive history of American nudism makes very interesting reading. The actual research started in June, 1964 and continued through 1967. Hardly any field has been left unexplored by the team and many statistics have been quoted.

In 457 pages, the American nudist has been analysed not to his bare skin, but from the skin inwards. And the conclusion? Nudists are basically no different from non-nudists. But Hartman also added that there was some evidence of greater openness and honesty than he had anticipated.

The field that has been covered includes: nudist ethical standards and religious practices, social characteristics, stratification and personality, sexual behaviour, marital adjustment, youth, effects of nudism, drop-outs and malcontents, non-nudist reaction to social nudism, nudism as a therapeutic community and reactions. These last two chapters make certainly the most interesting reading.

The therapeutic qualities of nudism are a field that we have neglected so far. We, New Zealand nudists have been too much occupied with our desire for relaxation and sport, in other words in our own self-satisfaction, our own entertainment. It is about time that we started thinking about the things that we as nudists can offer to the community.

This chapter describes the importance of social milieu as an aid to treatment of neurotic patients. It mentions several well known psychologists who are stressing nudity as a therapeutic aid under skilled supervision. A few cases are described in detail. In my opinion, this is a field that we should take up as soon as possible and prove ourselves to the community as a useful movement.

The statistics in the book are very interesting, and my impression is that in general it would apply to the New Zealand nudist in the same way and should prove to anyone who is in doubt about the healthy aspects, mental and physical, of nudism or whoever doubts the honesty of the movement, that nudism will grow and has its place in the community. A thoroughly recommended book!

Emiel Roland

news from
the clubs
in new zealand

Tauranga Sun Club Inc.

We of Tauranga, have leased grounds of eight acres, situated 12 miles from the Tauranga Post Office. They are surrounded by natural bush and ferns, where some delightful bush walks have been constructed. Our facilities include a small clubhouse, play, camping and sunning areas, and a small swimming pool made of concrete blocks and supplied through pipes with a continuous flow of spring water. Unfortunately we have no electricity, so all our heating of water (which is pumped to a storage tank and from there, to various parts of the grounds) is done by a coal range. For the children there are swings, seesaw, a small paddling pool and quite an assortment of toys.

Our membership at the time of writing is well up in the seventies with a big intake since Christmas. Many thanks to this wonderful magazine, television and radio.

At the present time we are still enjoying very mild weather which enables us to get that last minute suntan before old Jack Frost creeps in. Plans for our winter programme are well in advance, which includes swims at hot pools, Bar-B-Qs, film and social evenings, as well as visits to various places of interest.

Wanganui Sun Club Inc.

Greetings once again from the "River City" where the continual hunting for club grounds has occupied a lot of time but as yet has not been fruitful.

We held a function for the N.Y.C.-"Splash-in 72", in the form of a swim and social with the emphasis on youth.

It seemed so enjoyable that by the time this is printed a similar function will have been held with all age groups invited.

The sauna and swimming pool complex is still proving very popular and has now been increased to once a fortnight. If you are down our way on the right weekend "splash-in" with us and join in our latest sport "water teniquoit", the rules not yet quite finalised.

A preview, some photographs and write up of "splash-in 72" and then the letters for and against using nudist photographs in the local Sunday paper "News View" brought us prolonged publicity and held us in the public eye for the last 7 weeks, bringing some enquiries for membership and the hope of improving our public image. People around Wanganui should certainly know we exist.

Wellington Sun Club Inc.

During Anniversary Weekend in January, a small party of members spent a pleasant weekend on the farm of a member in the Wairarapa. The weather was not the best, and the hillsides were too steep for the few rabbits about, but the creek was full of eels the first night! We hope to make this an annual event away from Fiveacres.

The weather has not been the best throughout the whole summer and this has kept down attendances to such an extent that the annual tournament for the three sports trophies was never held. Work has, however, progressed so that we shall soon have two miniten courts, at least one being sealed.

The new filtration plant for the swimming pool is a winner! The water has remained crystal clear for the whole season. Even a week after Easter the kids were still having plenty of fun in the distinctly cool water.

There have been many visitors from other clubs and these, along with the regulars, have retained the usual overnighters who like to stay for the full weekend. The top camping area has been nearly full of tents and caravans right up until after Easter.

In the clubhouse, a film and slide evening of the early days (up to 1965) was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone present. They want more and this will be arranged. There were gasps of surprise at what the members had achieved, bearing in mind that it was all done by hand - there was no Charlie with his dozers, loaders, diggers etc. in those days!

Fund raising schemes are under way to help finance new amenities for the children's area and the sealing of the games courts.

Winter activities have started with our weekly sauna nights. Late in April there will be our annual Ball and this year it is combined with our 21st Birthday Party. More of that in the next club news. Tree planting around the whole boundary of our new land addition will be the main job for the winter at the club grounds.

Gisborne Sun Club

We had a glorious Anniversary Weekend at Ian and Jennifer's it started with tempting Alan, a very new member, to play teniquoit in the rain and ended with our family for one, going home with various stages of sunburn.

Ian gave us a full report on the Executive Meeting at Christchurch in particular, and the Rally in general, where, we gather, a good time was had by all.

At the meeting Joan and Lu were elected to replace the committee members who had left our district.

We tried out the suntan lotion sample on our 'freckliest' skin-owner and as she turned a slight tan (never before seen in the annals of history), we hope it may be a good source of supply. Having suffered 'lumpiness' from another type, I'd be interested in hearing from any other allergenics as to their skin reaction.

We would like to offer a welcome to Alan and his wife, and to George, our new members since last writing.

We are practically in the doldrums here, having had a piece of land slip from our fingers just when we were starting to celebrate. Never mind, we got pretty close this time, so perhaps our luck is Improving. Thinking of this, the brief message from Gavin has been duly noted and we've all got books shoved you know where!

P.O. Box 391 will find us if you're at all interested in joining us.

Auckland Sun Club Inc.

Here we are, half way through the year, with only 20 weeks to go before our Summer season starts.

I think it would be fair to say that the summer just gone would be the worst we've had for some years. This must have been the case over most of the country. But looking back over the summer, we in our club have enjoyed it in another way. Regular Sunday visits to the grounds even in unsettled weather has always helped to pass a dull day.

In March we paid a visit to the Waikato Club. Some 50 of our members drove down in convoy to see the club for the first time. Everyone enjoyed themselves. Group visits like this not only give us a day out, but also gives the host club that little needed incentive to carry on with improvements and facilities. This is one club that you should not miss seeing when passing through.

We have a full programme for the winter months. This includes swim nights once a month, and sauna once a month. The sauna will include the general public so long as they come in couples. This is only to keep an approximately even number attending.

Films and social nights have also begun. All of these events are designed with the express purpose of keeping us in touch over the winter period.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express our delight for the way the N.Z. Naturist has become a magazine of outstanding quality. Well done committee.

Auckland Outdoor Health Club Inc.

With membership now approaching 500 adults the facilities at Oranui are under strain and some duplication is planned in time for the National Rally. There are now about two dozen caravans permanently on the grounds and new camping areas will also have to be developed to cope with visitors. Judderbars are to be installed along the road into the grounds because too many drivers ignore the "go slow" notices posted every chain or so from the gate, and beside pushing the metal off the road, these cars are a menace to little children.

A none-too-glorious summer was farewelled by our customary miniten tournament at Easter, with great battles being fought. indeed, judging by the amount of heat generated, had the weather been hot I am sure we would have had players collapsing on the courts, in the event there were no accidents. A full length dive by Roger without even an abrasion showed just how smooth the new concrete is. He may of course, be exceptionally thick-skinned

Winter saunas have now started again for members and splash nights at a tepid pool twice a month are shared with Kowhai Valley Club.

Photos: Murray Wren 

         Read and enjoy

HEALTH & EFFICIENCY

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in every issue

PLUS

the official news and pictures of all
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HEALTH & EFFICIENCY

PLANT NEWS LTD
38 North Audley Street
London, W.1, England

Kowhai Valley Club Inc.

There is little to be added to what was optimistically written in the "News from the Clubs" sections of the last two issues of this magazine. Since the March issue, the committee members, assisted by many enthusiastic members, have put down a concrete floor in the club-house (by now partly carpeted), and a spacious concrete patio at its front door. Work has also commenced on a much-needed smaller building to house the lawn mowers and a multitude of tools, which at present are temporarily stored in the clubhouse. For the safety of the children, the aforesaid patio will soon be provided with a fence, after which it will be ready for reclining in the sun, dozing or merely admiring the magnificent vista of rolling hills, and surging breakers on the beach far below. One of our members, of poetic bent, has suggested we re-name this patio "The Ocean-View Sun Deck".

It only remains now to add, on behalf of the committee, that next summer when we are a little more settled in, we shall be most gratified to welcome visitors from our sister clubs in Auckland and from distant parts. By that time (who can predict the future?) we may (operative word may) have a millionaire join our ranks as a member. If so, we shall require him to install a "flying fox" cable from the front door of our clubhouse down to the beach, there to indulge in a dip in the surf. As an added attraction, oUr friend Emiel may by that time have succeeded in converting it into a Free Beach! Being always optimistic, we shall certainly hang up our stockings on Christmas Eve with a note to Santa demanding such a millionaire - generous with his dollars if possible - as an addition to our ranks.

Taranaki Naturist Club

As we are still forming our club we have not got a great deal of news, but we will tell you what we have done so far. We have a committee of six members and have had a few enquiries for membership.

During the summer we frequently visited a local beach on the fine weekends. It is a good surf beach and is in a very secluded locality, but as we realise that we may not always be able to use it, we are searching frantically for suitable club grounds.

With the winter approaching, sauna nights at our home are proving very popular. Towards the end of summer our members visited Auckland Outdoor Health Club, Auckland Sun Club, Kowhai Valley Club and Waikato Outdoor Soc. and also met members from Tauranga Sun Club and Wellington Sun Club.

A most enjoyable slide evening was provided by Dorothy and Bert from the Canterbury Sun and Health Club who were on holiday here.

Four members camped at Auckland Outdoor Health Club over Easter and we all thoroughly enjoyed their hospitality.

We would like to thank all members of other clubs who have given us so much friendly advice and assistance.

Photo: D. Larby

Returning to work after the Christmas holiday last year, the following conversation took place between one of the girls, an attractive young immigrant from Ireland, and your editor.

Office girl: Hi, have a nice holiday?

Editor: Yes thanks. You?

Office girl: So so. Did you go away?

Editor: Yes.

Office girl: Anywhere interesting?

Editor: Yes, I went to the Nudist Rally at Wellington.

Office girl: Oh, you never did, you're having me on!

Editor: No I'm not, I went with the club I belong to, about thirty of us went.

Office girl: You mean you all run around with nothing on?

Editor: Yes.

Office girl: Oh! It's not right! It's not decent! What would your wife say if she found out?

Editor: Don't be silly, my wife was with me.

Office girl: She never was?

Editor: Of course she was.

Office girl: And she ran around in the altogether, too?

Editor: Naturally.

Office girl: Oh, it's not right!

Editor: Why not?

Office girl: Well, to be sure, if the good Lord had meant you to go naked, he wouldn't have given you clothes.

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 SUNSEEKERS INC.
P.O. Box 4126, Kamo

AUCKLAND OUTDOOR HEALTH CLUB
P.O. Box 2702, Auckland

AUCKLAND SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 2925, Auckland
Telephone Henderson 67-100

KOWHAI VALLEY CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 6238, Wellesley Street West,
Auckland 1

WAIKATO OUTDOOR SOCIETY INC.
P.O. Box 6l9 Hamilton

TAURANGA SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 2205, South Tauranga

ROTORUA SUN CLUB
P.O. Box 1007, Rotorua

GISBORNE SUN CLUB
P.O. Box 391, Gisborne

HAWKES BAY SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 551, Napier
Telephone 37-692 or 35-523

WANGANUI SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 410, Wanganui

PALMERSTON NORTH SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 980, Palmerston North

WELLINGTON SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 2854, Wellington
Telephone PRO 6468

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
Telephone Invercargill 66.156

TARANAKI NATURIST CLUB
P.O. Box 3039 Fitzroy, New Plymouth

N.Y.C. (NUDIST YOUTH CLUB)
Enquiries and Publicity
P.O. Box 52-001, Titahi Bay, Wellington

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