THE ETHICS OF SEABATHING.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14908, 5 March 1914, Page 2

THE ETHICS OF SEABATHING.

» TO THE EDITOII OF "TnE PRESS." Sir, —As a resident of New Brighton. 1 havo, up to tho present, been quiet on the above subject, believing the matter brought forward by the Rev. H. H. Mathias would have su-Cdeni ventilation without any word from mo, and would be taken up by the Mayor and councillors in tho right spirit, and that improvements on tho beach would be mado by those in authority. But as a ratepayer, 1 regret to read the resolution passed by the Council condemning tho action taken by the Rev. H. H. Mathias in-writing such a letter ac ho did in his "Church Record.'- How tho Mayor and councillors can walk about on tho beach and in the borough and see what they cannot help seeing, and be satisfied, is beyond my comprehension. I can quite understand that the rates aro high, and I think aro likely to be, as a letter in "The Press" this morning gives a very good reason for plenty of surf-bathers and sun-baskers (but not for married people with families) to come to New Brig'iton. People who have two-roome_ "batches" to let, will, no -doubt, bo pleased with the stand the Council has taken in this matter. But those who have sections for sale, and wi.-h to see fair-sized houses erected and peoplo to come and reside in the borough (who are really tho ones the Council should encourage to help the borough to pay its way and to improve its streets and sea-front, and to make the beach a pleasant resist for young and old) are not likely the resolution, passed by the Council. Many of ns residents make a po : nt of keeping onr friends and selves off the beach on Sunday afternoons n*id evenings—not being so easily sati-iiod with the behaviour of visitors as the members of the Council. I, for on.—and I i know of mam- others—can figure t.'re i Rev. H. H. Mathias that we appreciate I his efforts to keep _S_\v Brighton clean. —Yours, etc., I A RESIDENT OF TWELVE YEARS.