#  71 - June 1974 

the  new zealand naturist

Management Committee:

Charles Selwyn (Chairman), Barry Hill,

Ngaere Marquis and Bob McIver

Editor:

John H. Gilmour

President

Russell Delacour, Christchurch

Vice-Presidents
 

Ian Fairbrother, Gisborne
Geoff. Allen, Christchurch

Secretary-Treasurer

Joan Treanor, Wellington

Public Relations Officer
& Overseas Correspondent

Kees van den Bosch, Auckland

Youth Organiser

Tony Wood

Delegates representing all affiliated clubs

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APPLICATION

While New Zealand nudists wait patiently for the Powers that be to make their decision on our submissions for proposed amendments to the Police Offences Act our friends across the Tasman are approaching the problem from a different tack.

Almost all the action in Australia is in the Northern Territory where Darwin Sun Club are making their presence felt, to the consternation of a few and with the acceptance of many and the indifference of many more.

The action began in March 1971 when Darwin Sun Club made their first approach to Darwin City Council for a free beach. The reply was the same as many we have received in New Zealand - we would like to grant you a free beach but we don't have the powers or authority to do so.

Having approached all possible authorities through all the available channels and having been knocked back on every occasion Darwin Sun Club, led by a dynamic president, decided to try to force the issue. They therefore declared a beach "free" without the blessings of the authorities. This they did on 20 May 1973. It was not a protest, nor a demonstration. Nevertheless the action was just as effective. About forty members of the club were present on this occasion and signs were erected at each end of the selected section of Casuarina beach. There were no complaints, no arrests, and no trouble. There was, on the following day and throughout the next week, a tremendous rally of support from all quarters. The newspapers carried plenty of reports, several papers carried editorials supporting the nudists and various Legislative Councillors declared their support for the principle of a free beach. Radio and television gave plenty of coverage (if you will excuse the terminology) and even the local tradesmen cashed in on the sensation by including references to the Daring Darwin Nudists in their advertisements.

Having established (in many people's opinion beyond doubt) that nudity on the beach offends nobody but those who want to be offended, the Darwin nudists decided to hold another rally on the same stretch of sand the following week. But on this occasion they were to remain togged and the decision to strip or not was left to the individual members. Some remained clad whilst a few stripped. On this occasion however, names were taken and charges brought against one man (strangely enough not a club member). The charges against this man were dismissed by Mr. David McCann, SM, as "Trivial" but he ordered the defendant to pay $4 costs.

Following this trial the press gave further favourable publicity to the event and in one editorial pointed out the importance of the provision of a free beach by somebody in the position to make the decision. Petitions were circulated by the Darwin Sun Club, seeking signatures in support of free beaches and these met with considerable success.

Following the "Trivial" decision mentioned above Darwin Sun Club approached the Northern Territory Minister, Mr. Enderby with a 3,000 signature petition. The result of this approach was a directive to assistant administrator and Government leader Mr. Martyn Finger to prepare a statement for debate in the council to have the law changed so that "indecent exposure" was more clearly defined.

During all this legal hassle the Darwin Sun Club continued to foster good will and gain publicity in any way they could. A panel of members attended a debate on "Nudism, is it immoral?" sponsored by the Darwin Adult Education Centre and put across the nudist point of view very well. The debate ended with the mutual decision that "It's all in the mind!" The club also had their name on the list of donors towards the Townsville Cyclone Appeal. They advertised humorously for people "to play volleyball in the rain, badminton in the wind" etc. and generally did everything they could to put across the image of social nudism.

In July 1973 three more were charged with indecent exposure on the same beach despite the previous decision that such charges were "Trivial". These three were fined, a fourth case was dismissed for lack of evidence. Meanwhile, another nude swimmer was fined for the same offence on another beach, this time at Lameroo. There seems to be some doubt about the amount of the fines as different papers reported varying amounts from $10 to $20 with costs, but the fact remains that when the case was heard by a different magistrate the offence was no longer "Trivial" and any nude swimmer appearing before Mr. Roy Watson could expect no sympathy.

Darwin Sun Club launched an appeal for funds to pay the fines of all those who were charged and anyone wishing to support this move should send their offering to the treasurer of the club.

Like the Kiwi, Darwin nudists are still waiting for a decision, the latest news is that a submission has been sent to the new Minister for the Northern Territory, Dr. Rex Patterson, if he agrees with the establishment of a free beach, legislation will be introduced in the May Legislative Council sittings. If he is not in agreement with the establishment of a free beach???

Whatever else we can learn from the above very brief summary of the Darwin affair, one thing is obvious. The Australian nudist is not afraid of publicity. The President of the Darwin Sun Club, Rick Venning, has been in the public eye for some time. He is a school teacher. He is not ashamed of his association with nudism, in fact he goes out of his way to prove he is proud of his association with us. He has some very staunch supporters, like Sandy McDonald in Victoria and the many others who have appeared in court to defend a principle. We can learn from them. They are certainly not backward in coming forward and they are prepared to stand up and be counted. If this is the stuff of which nudists are made, I am certainly proud to be counted among them.

youth
organiser's
report

In the last issue of our magazine I mentioned the lack of youth participation in nudism. It is easy enough to state facts such as these of course, but what can we deduce from them? The diverse explanations for this problem make the answer more remote. Sometimes though, a basic explanation offers a route for considerable progress.

I have found that youth is reluctant to participate in club activities because they are traditionally excluded from any right to influence club activities. Because of this, the gap between youth and middle age attitude widens. This process needs not go far to tip the balance against the younger folk causing them to opt out of nudism.

The institution which unwittingly perpetuates this situation is simply our democratic system, which although it is probably the most humanitarian form of government, has, as its principle fault the tendency to pass over minority needs. One of the most deprived minorities in nudism is youth. This is because in all sun clubs, each of the three basic categories of voters unconsciously regards nudism as being basically intended for its own purposes: Thus:

We now have three generalised groups, for whom the ebullience of youth can be rather less than desired!

Let us now see how the sum total of their views on youth is made more than merely personal opinion. Each sun club is run by an elected committee. None of the above three categories is likely to vote a teenager onto that committee, even if such a person were constitutionally able to stand for nomination. Thus most committees consist almost entirely of the age group 30 to 55.

This "pre-war" committee is therefore most likely to try to impose its own ideas on its youth. At the best it is a middle age group trying to decide purely from its own experiences and upbringing what its youth needs. A parallel can be drawn here between this situation and that in New Zealand society where pakeha committees and institutions try to understand the requirements of a growing population of Polynesians. Unless they have the full and equal participation of those Polynesians, in their decisions, they will never be able to adequately solve the situation.

With this situation it is no good saying that there is ample opportunity for youth to join in with the adult activities, because they probably need their own activities within nudism. I believe unless all age groups join in with sun club life, nudism cannot be said to be truly a family affair.

In the next issue I hope to discuss ways of overcoming this problem.

Tony Wood

free
beaches

We hope most members of our nudist movement and many of their friends have our "Free beaches" sticker on their cars by now. It is important to our action, the more to be seen on the street the better.

We can report that another local authority is sympathetic to our free beach movement and will declare a beach free when legislation permits. Fortunately this will coincide with the locality of a motor camp run by a couple of former nudist club members. This coming summer we will organize a weekend at this motor camp, which will be opened exclusively to our members.

Our efforts to get a piece of crown land on the beach in Northland have not had any results so far, I am sorry to say. Also in connection with this I cannot stress enough the importance of our car stickers. There are still quite a few government officials who do not take our movement seriously and the only thing you, dear reader, have to do in the fight to convince them of our sincerity is to display our "free beaches for New Zealand" sticker in your car.

Emiel Roland.

Often, when I am enjoying myself in the sunshine or working with friends on a working bee I can't help feeling that there is something very selfish in all this. Here we are, only concerned with ourselves and how we can improve the grounds so that we can enjoy ourselves more. Sure, we try to convince our friends that they should share the benefits of our way of life, but basically that does not alter the very egocentric attitude of "I want to enjoy myself".

Most of us do not go further than that, we all know the very relaxing feeling we get when we feel sun and wind freely on our skin. Have we ever thought about the healing properties that are hidden in this. While benefitting the body, nudism can give even greater benefit to the mind. In America, and I believe in some places in New Zealand experiments are being conducted with group therapy. This is usually concentrated on persons with certain complexes. I am also thinking about people with certain neurological disorders and people with sex problems. Purely physical difficulties could benefit from the overall exposure.

The point I want to make is, if we have such ideal circumstances to benefit these people, why are we so selfish that we think only about our own pleasures? Could we not, as nudists, be of some use in the community and open our gates to the medical profession and give them the opportunity to put these facilities to the test by allowing some of their patients to mix with us, under strict supervision? At least then we would not only be thinking about ourselves. I realize there are several difficulties to be overcome and details to be considered, but the purpose of this article is what it says in the title. I would be very grateful to receive reactions to my idea, either for or against especially, comments from doctors and psychiatrists would be very much appreciated if they would welcome such an opportunity.

Emiel Roland

things
to
think
about

Photo: Jim Lorch 

kangaroo
visits
the
kiwis

I have often wondered how many nudists really appreciate what they have in their clubs. My wife and I have been members for only four years, but in that time we have made many wonderful friends. When visiting other countries a nudist can always be sure of a friendly welcome among people one has never previously met. This is important if one is not really an outgoing person, and a little shy about meeting strangers.

When we decided to tour New Zealand in 1972 we booked a package tour taking in both islands and terminating at Auckland. In order to visit a Sun Club we stayed over the week-end instead of returning home with the tour. We were picked up at our hotel in Auckland and taken out to the grounds of Auckland Sun Club. There we had a most enjoyable day, and at the end of the day were kindly invited to dinner at the home of one of the members. Our hosts, who told us they had really kidnapped us to find out a little about Sydney, gave us a lovely evening and the visit was the beginning of a very precious friendship. We found we had much in common, and correspondence later culminated in our hosts visiting Sydney last year and honoured us by staying at our home (see New Zealand Naturist No. 69, page 16). We will never forget their stay with us and the pleasure we received, and regret only that time did not allow us to show them more of Sydney.

In January of this year we again visited New Zealand and they made us welcome in their home. We flew over and were met at the airport by our hosts and driven to their home in the Waitakere Ranges.

Our first trip was to Ninety Mile Beach for two weeks. A batch within yards of the beach proved very comfortable and sufficiently secluded to permit a naturist holiday. I enjoyed fishing from the beach (caught some too!) and we all swam in the surf and rambled along the beach. A bus trip along the beach for 50 miles then up the bed of the Te Paki stream (an experience in itself) and on to Cape Reinga. Then back down the main road to Kaitaia. Very sadly we packed up at the end of our time and drove back along the east coast, visiting Mangonui, Kerikeri, Waitangi, Uretiti Beach and many other places. Thence back to Auckland.

Staying with our friends in their home in the Waitakeres was a great pleasure as their home is private enough to live the naturist life. After a few days however we were off again, this time south to Rotorua, where we spent three memorable days visiting Maori concerts, the thermal attractions at Whakarewarewa, a launch trip to Mokoia Island and many other local sights.

Back to Auckland and our hosts home, where they had built a small sleep-out in their garden for us (we christened this "Lower Hut").

Before leaving for our return flight we felt we must pay some visits to other Auckland clubs. We first visited our host's club, Auckland Sun Club, and enjoyed a swim in their new pool. This pool was under construction when we visited them on the first occasion. Another day we visited Kowhai Valley Club, a delightful spot with a magnificent outlook over the hills to Bethells Beach and the sea. The club house and grounds were a credit to the hard-working members.

Our last club visit of the holiday was to Auckland Outdoor Health Club. This we found a little overpowering, due I think to its size. Although everything was beautifully laid out and maintained and we were made most welcome by the caretaker and his wife, this visit was a little difficult for us. As strangers there were just too many people to meet. If we were able to visit more often no doubt this would not be so. Those members we did meet certainly made us feel welcome with their warm and friendly greetings.

The New Zealand clubs are different to our Australian ones, most of which are proprietary and I will not attempt to make comparisons. In the clubs we visited we found the same friendly atmosphere as we experienced in our home clubs. Members clubs and proprietary clubs each have their good points and perhaps each has something to learn from the other.

At the end of a glorious four weeks we were reluctantly driven to the airport for our flight to Sydney. Many thanks New Zealand, and in particular Bernard and Gnaere, for a wonderful holiday.

It is only by such visits as we had that one can fully appreciate the benefits of membership of a nudist club. Perhaps we were fortunate to have formed such a good union with our host family and we wish to thank them publicly for being so kind to us Aussies. If any Kiwis are visiting Sydney and would like to visit Naturi, contact your editor and I am sure he will be pleased to put you in touch with us.

Bob, Naturi, N.S.W.

second national
raffle

The second national raffle was concluded and clubs have put their hard earned cash to good use. Unfortunately the raffle was only moderately successful, the timing was poor and most clubs struck great opposition from other pre-Christmas raffles. This made the selling really tough going, but in spite of this most clubs managed to get members out selling and made good profit. To those members who dislike raffles and think them unnecessary please remember the smaller clubs benefit greatly by the raffle and over $13,694 has been retained by clubs for their improvement which all members benefit from.

The second raffle was drawn by a constable at the Addington police station. The winning ticket was sold in Christchurch to a couple (non-nudists) who chose to take the money.

The other prizes were won by ticket-holders all over New Zealand including Otaki, Rotorua, Hawkes Bay, Dunedin, Paeroa, Taranaki and Auckland. The Canterbury Sun Club sincerely thanks all local organisers and their helpers for the hard work put in to help make the raffle show a profit. A special thank you must go to Jeff Hatfield, president of Wellington Sun Club and all the Wellington Club ticket sellers for their special effort in selling over 3,000 tickets and to South Canterbury and Aurora for their wonderful efforts.

A reminder to all organisers to pay their raffle dues to the National Secretary in Wellington as there are some clubs who still have not paid. The money is urgently needed. Once again, thank you for your support and the best of luck to Wellington in their raffle started recently.

Pat Trott

censorship
by
age

In most countries around the world age classification is well accepted. Take the cinema as just one subject because they are rated as suitable for general exhibition, children when accompanied by an adult, or for adults only. The last of these sometimes carries an age limit with it.

Basically, classification is one of those limits that has never been fully defined. There are many kinds of classification ranging from advisory to statutory. Here we see it for what it is - censorship, no more, no less.

Who can dispute that classification is essentially a surrender of parental authority over their children. Doesn't this say two things to a parent? Someone else's idea of suitability is what counts and not your idea of quality, individual taste, and intellectual value. And secondly, you, as a parent, are not qualified to know what is suitable for your own children.

The censor always wants to impose the highest age limit possible and some of the self-appointed censor's would even prohibit everybody under the age of 50 (it would seem) from reading and viewing certain material. On the other hand the lower the age limit the more likely it is that the law will be held to be constitutional. It could be argued that the ideal age should be 15 years because of precedents such as the issue at that age of a driving licence, or the school leaving age of our compulsory education. We could also argue that 18 be the age limit since that is the age for military service. Certainly a person old enough for military service should be entitled to view and read what they like. Then we have the age of majority, set in New Zealand at 20 (in U.K. it is 18). At this age a person is eligible to vote, sign a hire purchase agreement, and may even become a juror and have to sit in judgment (ironically, quite possibly on the age classification censorship if necessary).

Certainly there can be no doubt that the law must distinguish between children and adults and should establish the age at which a person becomes an adult for any particular purpose.

The real issue here is whether certain kinds of books, films, etc. can or will cause harm to children. Unfortunately scientific evidence on this subject is too limited for an authoritative conclusion.

Many people would like to place an age restriction on this magazine and in fact some stationers and booksellers do so, and this is where we can laugh at them because children of a naturist family can read it where and whenever they like without suffering any of the adverse effects feared by the many Mrs. Grundies of the world.

Roy H. (Aurora)

news from
the clubs in
new zealand

Taranaki Naturist Club Inc.

The long hot summer must surely have come to an end by the time you read this but what happy thoughts we have on looking back to almost six months of ideal sun-lovers weather.

To many of our members the Wellington Rally was the highlight of the season, while others who stayed at home during the holidays still talk about the wonderful people who visited our grounds with words of encouragement and advice which we, as a relatively new club, are very pleased to get.

Most North Island clubs, as well as Christchurch and Nelson, have been hosts to one or another of our members. As we believe that inter-club activities should be encouraged we are planning to visit as many clubs as possible in the near future, and hope that visitors from other clubs will call on us whenever possible. Naturists from Holland, America and Australia were on our visitors list this Summer which was considered by our local newspapers to be significant news and accordingly a good write-up was given about the club.

Those who remember our grounds from a few months back would hardly recognise them now, as our neighbours have once again given us the use of their bulldozer to form a road from the front gate around behind the club house, over two streams and through to a camping area which is partly screened by native bush. A local contractor has metalled most of the road for a nominal fee. The whole sports area near the club house has been bulldozed to a regular contour and sown in grass, and the hole has been dug for the swimming pool.

Although we have concentrated on outside work during fine weather we have also continued with work inside the club house, the lounge and kitchen getting most of the attention.

With the formation of sub-committees we now have a number of small groups of members whose jobs sometimes overlap but a closely knit band of members has resulted with everyone feeling a responsibility to the club. Our recently formed finance committee has been very busy and promises some great news for the next N.Z. Naturist - so watch out!!

The social scene this winter will be something outstanding, with the main event being our Annual Cabaret. We know that Gisborne claims to run the best cabaret in New Zealand so we are sending twelve spies to the other side of Gisnaki Land to study their technique. We already have planning well under way for what must be a function to surpass all others on the Nudist Calendar. Tickets have been printed but club secretaries will be given a chance to notify us of their requirements, then our members and their friends will buy the remaining tickets. So remember, if you can make it to New Plymouth for 12 October get your club secretary to let us know and we will do the rest to make your week-end one to remember.

Photo: John Selkirk

Canterbury Sun Club

No, we are no longer reeling from the blow we received when the Government found out that our grounds and amenities were so perfect that they wanted them as a nucleus of a new city. Time has cushioned the traumatic blow and we already have had discussions concerning our future. A Land Acquisition Committee has been formed and at present the Club holds an option on a large area of flat desirable land approximately the same distance from Christchurch as our present grounds. As everyone will be aware, it is a most unsettling experience to be told that your property is to be taken and to have no one able to advise when, or what value is to be placed on the property. Capital expenditure has to be stopped and urgent matters are left in a state of flux, but in spite of these matters the Club is in good heart and as we plan our future home we will probably adopt the Commonwealth Games Song as our incentive.

Our Social Committee with usual determination has pressed on with many enjoyable functions. A quick glance through our monthly "Pinecones" newsletter shows notices of Card evenings, Hangis, Music nights, Barbecues, film evenings, Saunas and many other functions. Getting together at these functions is certainly a means of meeting new members and associating with old friends. Social gatherings also become an extension of the compulsory Sunday afternoon tea assemblies in front of the Clubhouse, which is a great opportunity to air one's views on past and projected Club matters.

We have become somewhat ashamed that we do not show up too well photographic-wise in the National magazine and we hope to be able to remedy this soon with the appointment of an official Club Photographer. By the time the June issue of the N.Z. Naturist is printed, we will have had our Annual General Meeting and from the interest shown in Club matters, especially the new grounds, we will have many new keen members acting in executive positions. Congratulations to them will be in order.

Southern Sun & Health Club Inc.

World Naturist Day, 10 February, 1974 in the southernmost club in the naturist world. Hurricane Pam did not stop the local aero club flying over Flaxhaven (the name of our grounds) and the Chief Flying Instructor from almost doing one of our members a mischief. The instructor pointed out to the pilot under training that "Down there is the local Sun Club", little realising that the said pilot was a member of the club under observation. Never mind Peter - he did pass you for glider towing which should bring in a few more dollars for the club (see the sun lovers by glider and save petrol). The rest of this day was one of hard work, erecting the outer fence and levelling the flax, lupins, and not forgetting the nightshade (kindly pointed out to us by the diviner). Water being in short supply in more ways than one these days in Invercargill the Water Diviner was brought in to help locate a suitable underground source if possible for our future swimming pool (sorry folks, no oil, we are on the southern slope). Oh yes, thank you Wellington for allowing us to pick your brains, it saves us a brain drain.

Ken, our club president (noted for his dislike for aircraft) had our two aero club members biting their finger nails as he did near loops in the front-end loader while clearing the grounds. The loader, which was borrowed, saved many hours of work on the blister end of a shovel. We rather think that Des had blisters someplace else, for when the loader ran out of fuel he just beat the Saturday Petrol Deadline by doing a quarter mile sprint on a club members bicycle with a gallon to get the loader to the garage on time, followed by a two hour drive to the club grounds.

There was one more working bee weekend to complete the fence and the local press to photograph the grounds. A bit late but at least they did give us a four inch column write up before World Naturist Day and promised further reports later, and since our "Open Day Invitation" advert, we have received some response.

Members have been able to bathe on secluded parts of the local beach and have been searching for a nudist beach by land and air but so far without much success. So it's back to the club grounds and work is soon to be started on our miniten court and swimming pool.

Gisborne Sun Club Inc.

The most important item on any club grounds, most people will agree, is the swimming pool. Ours is pale blue and white with a filter and vacuum cleaner. This will probably be the last time it is mentioned in club notes unless something terrible happens to it.

The concrete in front of the clubhouse is down, also paths and the foundation for the barbecue. The latter should be built fairly soon as even in its temporary state it was well used.

The pergola is finished and now only needs the creepers over it to make the whole place very attractive.

With a lot more cinder on the drive visitors should not have the trouble with their cars that they experienced last year.

In February three car loads travelled to Oranui for the sports day. We travelled on Friday evening, arriving at 2.30 a.m. Emiel kindly loaned his caravan for some members while the rest shared a large tent.

On the Saturday morning some of us visited Auckland Sun Club and we were impressed by the neatness and attractive surroundings. In the evening our host club entertained us at a Latin-American Social which was most successful.

The sports day proved to be educational as well as fun. Most of us had never played miniten or volleyball before but our hosts put up with our fumbling and stray shots and spent a great deal of time coaching us. We do thank them for the opportunity to play these games. At least we were able to hold our own in one game by winning the tenniquoits.

Another trip was made in March when a number of our members went to Port Ohope to stay for a weekend. This place had been suggested as a suitable place for nudist holidays so all were interested to have a look. With the long beach there is always a clear space for nude swimming. Some of us were fortunate to visit the proposed site for the new Tauranga Club. With the native bush and stream this area should make a lovely setting for a club.

Preparations are well in hand for our Cabaret on 6 July. We are anticipating visitors from many clubs and hope this year will be brighter and happier than ever before.

South Auckland Sun Club Inc.

Well folks, by the time this appears in print we will be a fully fledged club with "Inc" after our name, land beneath our feet, and affiliation just around the corner. The milestones being: May 1973 - first advertisement for interested people to form a club, August 1973 - club formed and constitution adopted, November 1973 - 3½ acres purchased, December 1973 - Incorporation, 1 May 1974 - take possession of land purchased in November. Our membership has grown very rapidly and to this we must give A.O.H.C. a very big thank-you for the use of their grounds. What a boon it has been to be able to take new members there to experience their debut to naturism in such pleasant surroundings. Our thanks are also extended to ASC for the warm welcome extended to us when we visited them several weeks ago. It is gratifying to experience such friendship among the clubs and augers well for the goodwill of the movement in the Auckland district.

The $500 we received from the Perc. Cousins Trust Fund will be well spent early in May as it is necessary to fence 10 chains of our boundary before we can become fully operational. Thus with working bees and social functions during the coming winter our members will be able to get to know and see more of each other.

Enthusiasm is running high, as starting from scratch there is plenty of scope for ideas as to development.

To those members of existing clubs who wish us well we are extending associate membership at $5 a unit and to all members of the movement we shall extend a warm welcome when you visit us and a dynamic committee at the helm this club is going to be a force to contend with in the future.

If you feel you would like to join an enthusiastic group and have some fun in the sun drop a line to P.O. Box 67, Papakura.

North Shore Sun Club

Although we are a new club, the newest in New Zealand in fact, and at the moment of writing have no grounds, we continue to grow in numbers. The idea of a club on the North Shore of Auckland seems to have caught on.

By the time you read this we hope to have been granted incorporation, then we will be a legal entity and can embark on land ownership, should we be able to find that elusive bit of land amongst the many thousands of acres of bush in this area. We are not lacking enthusiastic members, and some day one is going to come up with some knowledge of the spot for which we are looking. In the meantime we can only hope to find a temporary home, which seems to be just as elusive.

We are greatly indebted to the Auckland Sun Club and the Auckland Outdoor Health Club for the temporary use of their grounds. Some of our prospective members have been "hooked" by a visit to one of these clubs and seeing what can be achieved.

Two of our members have embarked on organising a winter programme of social activities including sauna evenings, dinner dates, and get-togethers in a member's very spacious rumpus room, commencing with a "sit-in" in a popular local hotel's lounge. By the start of next season we should all know each other fairly well and be in top gear.

Auckland Sun Club Inc.

It could be said that Easter signals the end of summer and by the time you read this edition it may well be cold and bleak. But it must be agreed by all New Zealanders that the past summer came up trumps.

Several of our planned visits to other clubs had to be cancelled because of the petrol shortage but we made up for it in other ways.

We played host to North Shore and South Auckland Sun Clubs and many of our members attended socials at Oranui, these are always good value.

Peter has got stuck into the children's play area with a vengeance. When it is finished, with the addition of playhouse and a trampoline, this will be a popular spot. We have decided to name our grounds to help visitors to find us more easily. The final choice of name will be made at our general meeting in July.

We have every reason to be pleased with our efforts in selling the N.Z.S.A. Raffle tickets, thanks to all concerned.

Our pool is now empty and winter maintenance is well under way. Our drive has been completed and the toilet block finished off.

We look forward to a full winter programme of socials etc. One of the features being a combined A.O.H.C. and A.S.C. ball held a couple of days ago, what a night.

Well that sums it all up and leaves us with this thought from a new couple when being conducted round. the club, on entering the changing room: "Oh! Is this where we hang up our inhibitions?"

Tauranga Sun Club Inc.

Firstly we would like to apologize for the lack of news from the Bay of Plenty but most of our time has been taken up in the search for new grounds. Now the search is finally over after nine months of tireless efforts by our members this club has new grounds.

The grounds are situated in the Matata - Whakatane area approximately 47 miles from Tauranga. We have ten acres of mostly flat land with a very nice rocky stream running through part of the grounds forming a natural swimming hole with very little work to develop and concrete. From a large parking and camping area of about three acres the grounds run up through a valley bordered by pines one side and virgin native bush on the other.

One of our members has surveyed the whole area and has produced a full landscaped map with all details situated regarding amenities and play areas. Already work has begun with the removal of willow trees and quite a bit of bulldozing in places where needed. We have a very enthusiastic farmer who is prepared to help us in anyway possible.

We are applying to have the name of this club changed to the Bay of Plenty Sun Club lnc, but that's all that's changed so if you are in this area the B.O.P. Club welcomes you.

Photo: Con Chignell 

Auckland Outdoor Health Club Inc.

The summer season is nearly at an end but I am writing this report sitting in the sun on the club grounds at Easter. The miniten championships are in full swing and this Saturday before Easter we have our end of season Social Evening.

We can look back on a very successful season with many improvements and additions. The outstanding things are the new ablution block, a new miniten court and new drainage area for the original toilet and shower block. The tender for the clubhouse extensions will be signed at the next committee meeting and then that project can go ahead.

Apart from these major items there are many little improvements taking place all the time, done by a small band of active members. I am thinking about the clearing of drains, the improvements to the toddlers playing area, the shifting of all the children's play equipment to its permanent position, the planting and clearing of the native bush reserve and many other projects.

Three very successful beach trips were much appreciated by all participants. Unfortunately our efforts to obtain a piece of land at a free beach have not had any results yet, but we keep trying.

World Naturist Day for the Southern hemisphere, 10 February, was celebrated with a very successful open day on our grounds for the combined Auckland Clubs. As A.O.H.C. has a partially closed membership, all those visitors interested in becoming members were recommended to apply to one or another of the other four Auckland clubs and many have since joined.

Nelson Sun Club Inc.

With our A.G.M. just behind us the new Committee have ahead of them plenty of hard work. The recent rain which has caused severe flooding in the Nelson province also caused a few headaches for all at the Nelson Sun Club. Our ford was washed out (again), the half completed underground water storage tank flooded and to top it off the access road to the Club suffered several slips.

Nelson adopted the recommendation by the N.Z.S.A. regarding the use of Surnames in addition to Christian names within the movement. Members are still bound by our Constitutional rule that they must not divulge members names to people outside the movement.

During the summer season we had a record number of visitors to "Sunrise" including overseas visitors from Britain and the United States as well as members from other Clubs in N.Z. passing through after the Rally.

There is a strong support for Free Beaches in Nelson. Several members have been bathing as a group at one of the public beaches. They had been Bare-ly noticed by the authorities and no action was taken. This proves that there is a growing acceptance to the Naturist movement - even here.

Photo: Joe Smith 

Waikato Outdoor Society

After a lull in activities things have really started moving again. Our open day in March did not meet with quite as many enquiries to visit our grounds as in past years, but the newcomers that did arrive were most enthusiastic, and the men seemed to show their appreciation by hacking a path and steps through the bush to make a tour of the grounds easier for all. The weather was not as good as it might have been, but this did not stop the stream in our gully getting its share of attention. Many new members joined us during February and March, and we have had a fair share of visitors from other clubs, both from home and overseas. One American couple were so amazed at our million dollar view that they wanted to take it back to Texas with them.

An interesting step forward for us has been the allocation of part of our second gully for the building of cabins for members use, one has already been completed and another well on its way at the time of writing. We also have a full size trampoline which is proving extremely popular with the younger set, it seems to work almost non-stop.

We had a "Youth Week-end" on 9/10 March when the N.Y.C. paid us a visit. A full round of activities, including the ever popular barbecue was enjoyed by all. Perhaps the highlight was volley ball - wrinklies versus the rest, - I don't remember who won, - it seemed a bit of a mix-up.

A great deal of discussion took place as to whether we should try to build a new club house or swimming pool and as a large majority of the regular attenders favoured the pool idea, we have embarked on this major project. The pool is to be of concrete block construction seven courses high, giving a water depth of just over four feet. It is to be 42 feet long by 20 feet wide (inside measurement). At the time of writing the old pool has been vanquished, levels for the new one have been taken, all excavation work completed, and reinforcing made up for the footings.

We are again this year hoping to negotiate for the exclusive use of the Hamilton Sauna for a period on Sundays through the winter, and also for the Crystal Springs at Matamata one week-end in July - this latter has proved tremendously popular in the past both with our own and visiting clubs.

Northern Sun Seekers Inc.

The club grounds have been full of strange faces over Christmas from all parts of the country. As the year has drawn on the group has gradually become smaller and smaller until it was only our own club members who were left in the grounds.

We had a very enjoyable day at the beach with A.O.H.C. at Uretiti and met many friends whom we had not seen since Christmas. This is a very popular beach for nude swimming and is frequented by many people who do not belong to clubs.

When A.O.H.C. announced their sports day it started our volley-ball team practising hard to go down and make our mark on the sports fields of Oranui. Our first game was a real cliff hanger with us winning by the final point at 19-17. We were very lucky as we had been trailing 11-14. This cheered up our team and we sailed into our next two games with high hopes and crashed, 15-1 and 15-0. Ah well, back to the drawing board.

We had a second guest day in early March but it was not as well patronised as the first due partly to the weather. Two families that did arrive joined.

One of the extra-curricular activities that the club engaged in was to accept an invitation from a local co-educational high school to give a talk to the sixth formers on nudism. It came under the heading of "Liberal Studies" and when the teacher told me of some of the previous speakers I wished I had been one of the pupils at some of the earlier studies. When the invitation was mentioned at the committee meeting there was that awful silence which in some books is known as pregnant when we all stared hard at the ceiling, walls, and floor. The seconds ticked slowly by. The treasurer said, (just to break the silence), "We must accept. Someone must go." Val (bless her) said "I'll go but I don't want to go by myself." Which is how we came to be sipping hot coffee in the staff room trying to think of what to say to the pupils. Well, it wasn't as bad as we had imagined and there were no awful silences and with the teacher there to smooth over any awkward spots the hour just flew by. Questions were still coming thick and fast at at the end of the session. I came away with the feeling that no-one was offended by nudity.

Palmerston North Sun Club Inc.

With the summer over we are now concentrating on our next project - a concrete pool in the not too distant future. Plans and estimates have been drawn up and will be presented to members at our A.G.M. As a fast- growing club the new pool will have to be of sufficient size for future years. Our pool filter was designed and built by the Grounds Committee at a cost of $15.

The Housie evening at Lake Downs was an outstanding success. This is the type of evening members enjoy in the friendly atmosphere of the clubhouse.

We have now started our winter visits to the sauna.

The three buses on the grounds have now been joined by more caravans and Lake Downs town is still growing. A big planting programme is under way and we are hoping for the same growth as last year. The Corrall has been re-roofed providing a further 600 square feet of covered area at the rear of the clubhouse. This area has power and water.

Everyone, including a large number of visitors, has enjoyed the quiet and peaceful tranquility at Lake Downs.

Members from other clubs are invited to call in on your holidays and break your journey. If you want to join us write to Box 980 Palmerston North for a club brochure.

letters
to the
editor

Sir,

Some of the critics of the photos in your magazine liken them, with no justification, to those which appear in papers unconnected with naturism.

As an amateur photographer I believe that "relaxed poses", such as that on page 49 of No. 67 (which one writer criticises adversely) and the front cover of No. 70, enhance the appeal of the subject and should not be compared with strained and sometimes grotesque attitudes of the fashion model type.

The subject should be generally relaxed, and avoid tenseness of hands, limbs and feet, and above all look pleasant. The photos quoted are admirable in this respect.

Most photographers do choose suitable backgrounds, or keep them unobtrusive by careful focusing. In full figure shots allow sufficient space round your subject, and above all avoid amputating parts of the hands, feet, or even of the head as has sometimes happened.

Lighting should be chosen within the capabilities of both the photographer and his equipment, and also that of the subject to avoid screwed-up expressions in bright light. Small negatives need careful processing, grain has spoiled one or two otherwise pleasing photographs.

The range of your subjects should satisfy most readers. You have everything from attractive individual and group photographs, through action-shots to records of men and women performing noble and mundane tasks such as sawing wood, pouring concrete, or serving meals and refreshments respectively. Keep up the good work, you have the most natural naturist magazine I have seen.

N.J., Te Kuiti

Dear Sir,

Warren J. Cooke's suave and polished letter reads like the work of a professional con-man.

He criticises our magazine on the grounds of "girlie pin-ups" and "come-hither nudes".

Surely a great number of our members are "girlies" - and what is wrong with that? As for "come-hither" attitudes, this is in the mind of the beholder, and Mr Cooke may be quite in error in assuming the invitation which he sees applies to him.

When he suggests "a greater variety of photographic subjects" surely the answer is in his own hands. Many of us have contributed to the magazine - what has he offered? If we are to be elevated above our peasant standards, why doesn't he provide the uplifting material?

Perhaps the most sonorous of Mr Cooke's pronouncements is the dictum "I find little evidence of the sound judgement that makes a distinction between good and mediocre editing." The expected Kiwi answer to this would be brief - in fact a word of only four letters. Rude no doubt, but very difficult to dispute.

In his finale, Mr Cooke envisages the day of salvation when a full-time, salaried editor is appointed. What could he have in mind!

I don't know whether the magazine is a commercial success or not, but this recent era has been the first time I have thought our magazine both interesting and tasteful. It is also the first time I have known it being promoted very willingly by my local newsagent.

Therefore take heart, Mr. Editor. We'll put up with you a bit longer!

Tony (A.O.H.C.)

Dear Sir,

It has been some considerable time since I last wrote to you and your magazine. My last letter was a rather heated one in the respect that I commented on the difficulty arising when a single male like myself made application to join a club for naturists.

Since that time, things seem to have altered considerably for me. I am now being considered for membership to the Hobart Sun Club which pleases me very much, and I also have a small run-down farm of 30 acres which I am anticipating to utilise for nudism in some respect or other, depending on finance and interest shown.

Now, as before, I am still interested in contacting people re the establishing of a nudist club. I would like to cater to a certain degree, for the single male, as well as still being able to cater for the family nudists. This may be difficult and pose problems, I don't know. Perhaps there are some members or readers who have been faced with something similar before, or would like to write to me expressing their views, ideas and any suitable suggestions connected with establishing and running smoothly a club with a mixed membership, as this may well have.

Your magazine seems to reach quite a few of the people interested in nudism and I am hoping that you will spur others to write to me, expressing their thoughts, and enable them to assist me in some way.

G.J. Sanders

news from
the clubs in
australia

Darwin Sun Club, Northern Territory

Our free beach campaign still continues unabated and we are as optimistic as ever.

Our Club Day on the last Sunday of each month is proving a great success and attendances are improving each month. The social atmosphere on these days has to be experienced to be believed.

The social club has purchased roller skates and the children should bring their shoes along at week-ends if they want to skate around on the old fort cement. We have also obtained a cricket set, so maybe the entire family can join in this sport.

A big improvement is evident in the club site with lawn planted, a large cleared area and thriving shrubs. What a terrific occasion - the "2001" party, we should repeat this more often, but what to call it each time?

It's pleasing to see that the procurement of a permanent Club Site is becoming a reality, with the Department of the Northern Territory sounding reasonably sympathetic. It seems that we should be included in their planning proposals and may possibly retain tenancy of our present grounds.

We had an extremely successful World Naturist Day display and information centre and it was good to see members discussing questions with the many members of the public who showed a genuine interest in our club.

australian
club directory

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

SUNSEEKERS INC.
Box 220, P.O. Midland 6056, West Australia

TINDO,
Box 92, G.P.O. Adelaide 5001, South Australia

YUITI WIRRA,
Box 47, P.O. Nailsworth 5083, South Australia

RIVER VALLEY CLUB,
Box 227, P.O. Echuca 3625, Victoria

NORTHSIDE COUNTRY CLUB,
Box 107, P.O. South Melbourne, Victoria

THE HELlOS SOCIETY LTD.,
Box 440, P.O. Dandenong 3175, Victoria

CORIO VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB,
Box 379, P.O. Geelong 3220, Victoria

WOODLANDS SUN & HEALTH CLUB,
Box 2, P.O. Austral 2171, N.S.W.

HERITAGE (AUSTRALIA),
Box 121, P.O. Merrylands 2160, N.S.W.

ROSCO CLUB,
Box 45, P.O. Toronto 2283, N.S.W.

KIATA COUNTRY CLUB,
Box 103, P.O. Milson's Point, N.SW.

HESPERIDES,
Box 60, P.O. Lindfield 2070, N.S.W.

GOOD COMPANIONS,
Box 6, P.O. West End 4101, Queensland

EUREKA SUN CLUB,
Box 85, Acacia Ridge 4110, Queensland

GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB,
Box 22, Lawton 4501, Queensland

THE THREE BEARS,
P.O. Beenleigh 4207, Queensland.

DARWIN SUN CLUB,
Box 4741, P.O. Darwin 5794, Northern Territory

MOWANA NORTHERN RIVERS CLUB,
Box 24, South Grafton 2461, N.S.W.

SPIELPLATZ (AUSTR.)
Box 131, Camberwell 3124, Victoria

NINDI PARK CLUB,
22 Aitken Street, Millicent 5280, South Australia

Across

 1. Pastime
 4. Ribs of a ship
 8. Runged contrivances
 9. Mohammed's birthplace
10. Alpine region
11. Heed cur (anag.)
13. Finishes
15. To mock
17. Eaten away
20. Season
22. Confess publicly
24. Philosopher
26. Tested
27. Mythical animal
28. Urban roads
29. Ate

Down

 1. Greeted with gesture
 2. Sequence
 3. Multiplied by three
 4. Given a trial
 5. Ape
 6. Called for more
 7. Endure
12. Employed
14. Enmeshes
16. More spacious
18. Answered
19. Suffocated in water
21. Editions
22. Tracks
23. Invest
25. Decorate

CROSSWORD No. 71

new zealand
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

SOUTH AUCKLAND SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 67, Papakura

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

NORTH SHORE SUN CLUB
P.O. Box 66-033, Beachhaven

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

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

GEYSERLAND 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 55-331 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 837-862

NELSON SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 467, Nelson

CANTERBURY SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 1823, Christchurch

SOUTH CANTERBURY SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 610, Timaru

OTAGO SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 126, Dunedin
Telephone 52-564 and 70-170

SOUTHERN SUN & HEALTH CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 486, Invercargill
Telephone 41W Nightcaps

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

N.Y.C. (NUDIST YOUTH CLUB)
Enquiries and Publicity
National: P.O. Box 1931, Palmerston North
Auckland Branch: P.O. Box 6802, Auckland

AURORA SUNSEEKERS INC.
P.O. Box 5030, Moray Place, Dunedin.
Telephone 39-207 or 33-355