Father Christmas Now Converted To Nudism

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28473, 31 December 1957, Page 8

Father Christmas Now Converted To Nudism

Father Christmas is a cad on two counts, according to members of the Canterbury Sun and Health Club. He did not pay the club a visit until last Sunday (there was wet weather for the pre-Christmas party planned for nine days ago) and then he arrived in full regalia of fur-trimmed cap, scarlet coat and trousers, and high boots. So the Sun Club members considered that a “caddish reception’’ was justified. They accepted his presents and then dumped him in their new swimming pool. But now they believe Father Christmas may have / “seen the light”—or the sun. Later in the afternoon, a figure suspiciously like Father Christmas was seen gambolling in the pool without his clothes and his whiskers.

Whatever private convictions Father Christmas may have about nudism, he had no doubts he was among enthusiasts. More than 50 naked children clamoured round him as he distributed individually-

addressed gifts from his big sack and there were more than 100 naked adults delightedly watching the ceremony. The Canterbury Sun and Health Club’s nine-acre property in the country is now peopled day and night. About 70 persons are camping under canvas. Many are club members on holidays and the rest are Dunedin nudists who have arrived early for the national sun club convention which will begin on New Year’s Day. By to-morrow morning, there will be more than 100 parties of visitors living in the club’s pavilion, in caravans, or in tents and about 50 will go out daily from Christchurch. The total attendance will be almost 200 and, provided there is fair weather, they will not wear clothes for three days and nights. There will be delegations from Whangarei, from three Auckland clubs. Wanganui, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Some visiting nudists from overseas will also attend.

The full programme for the convention includes some business sessions, concerned mainly with rules; but the rest will be all fun —sports tournaments, an evening barbeque, film show, children’s competitions, and other entertainments.

The Canterbury Sun and Health Club has been preparing for this convention for three years. Members believe their facilities will match those of any nudist club in the Dominion.