The contradictions of social nudity

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32542, 27 February 1971, Page 13

The contradictions of social nudity

(Staff reporter)

It’s all very uncomfortable, believe me, trying to sip afternoon tea politely with a man, his wife and small child when all three are stark naked. I mean, there’s nothing more conventional than small talk over the tea-cups, but nothing quite as ludicrous as the bare buff on social occasions.

He was quite a friendly chap was Rod, the fellow who cheerily met me as arranged at a poultry farm and drove ahead into a plantation of pine trees to show me around on open day for the press at Canterbury’s nudist camp.

Apparently it was all part of a publicity drive throughout Australia and New Zealand by nudists and no doubt everyone was on the best behaviour for journalists. But frankly, although the temperature was in the nineties out there in the pine trees, the whole business just left me cold. The cup of tea came at the end of the visit, and Rod did apologise with a lick of the lips that it was not an ice-cold beer. Apparently there’s no ban on grog, but I suppose he was thinking of the image of nudism.

Tlie tea was more than welcome with the temperature 90 deg. in the shade, but I just didn’t know where to look as Mrs Rod brewed up, poured out and served in their one-roomed cabin.

‘Social leveller’ If I ignored my hosts, they might think I was impolite, I felt, and if I paid too much attention, Rod might think I was ogling his wife—who was dead keen on telling me what a great social leveller nudism is. I felt that the tea party was not a success. My visit began with a tour

of inspection of the 18-acre Canterbury plains site sizzling in tne sun. Rod soon had me at the side of the pool, packed with splashing, wallowing nudists and shouting children. Other nudists lolled under the trees, amply proportioned

mothers chatted together around a crowded toddlers’ pool; some keen types lay in the burning sun tanning their hides an even darker shade. Maybe it was for my benefit, I don’t know, but after a while a mixed group began playing tennikoit in the sweltering heat. Amid nakedness on such a scale I felt distinctly out of place, ill at ease. I was reminded of a visit to the zoo, and my guide announced in a loud voice that the man

from the press had arrived and would take some photographs. From the back "Take them from a distance please and with their backs to you,” requested Rod, a comment which probably shows even nudists have some sensitivity about being naked, and may be allrevealing to sociologists. Anyway, backs or fronts, it was the nudists who had asked for the publicity. And having stepped through a recumbent group of unclothed females and feeling like a friend of mine who once blundered into a women’s dressing room, I was glad to comply with the request. The nudists proudly pointed to a sign spelling out the only stringent rule at the camp—no togs in the pool. I wondered, when they told me it was rigidly enforced, just how they dealt with an offender.

We walked away from the pool past playground equipment, tennis court and so on. Why this elaborate catering for the no-clothes set? I asked. We feel so free, came the reply, but for the life of me I can’t see what’s so free about playing tennis in the nuddy. We toured among tents and cabins —many nudists apparently spend week-ends at the camp.

Up from Dunedin Under some pine trees, well away from the pool sat a bearded young man with two plump female companions who obviously had not been out in the sun., “We have come up from

Dunedin to join up,” said the man. Rod showed me the shower room block and seemed surprised when I asked whether men and wo...en showered together. “Of course they do,” he said. I couldn’t see the point. Back at the poolside, I met Geoff, the club president, and he suggested we sit in the shade on a rubber mattress. A few feet away lay a male member as bare as the day he was bom, flat on his

back, anatomy to the sky. And a pregnant mother, equally naked, sauntered by. It was all very chummy with families sitting around and children shouting and splashing, but I got the distinct impression as various shapes and sizes of both sexes went by that they were wearing their nakedness rather like one wears a badge. It was all rather like the taking of tea—faintly ridiculous and quite pointless. Better with And whatever taking off all their clothes does for nudists, in many cases it does nothing for the beholder. In other words, I couldn’t help feeling that most human beings look a darned sight better with clothes than without. Geoff the president, who told me he doesn’t broadcast the fact he is a nudist because it would be awkward in. his work, said that all kinds of people enjoy being nude.

He claimed there were school teachers, university lecturers, doctors, two ministers of religion, chemists, permanent Army career men and shop assistants. Rod later said the club did not have a doctor among its members, yet, so I don’t know . . .

At this stage Rod, who had worn clothes all along, presumably so I wouldn’t feel so conspicuous, disappeared to return in a few moments. He was without a stitch.

We were joined by Walter, who wore only a sun-hat, and who was as brown as a berry from head to toe. He

said he was an unashamed sun-worshipper. I tried to find out why nudists travel 16 miles out from the city and willingly pay $l2 subscription a married couple, the same for single men and $8 for a single woman, to strip off to their hearts content. (Some eager shedders even pay hundreds of dollars for a cabin.) Sandy togs They said that swimming without togs was wonderful. I don’t recall anything so special about it from my schooldays. They said you don’t have to worry about sand in soggy togs. Well, I don’t suppose you do, but who does? They said you don’t have to worry about ducking behind the bushes to change. Well, I reckon my family would beat any nudists down to the water when it’s time for a swim. The nudists talked of swim wear being too restrictive. It seems to me that the itsy-bitsy things get smaller every year. Why all the time and trouble of a nudist camp for a few more inches of sun-tan. Ail spoke of the social atmosphere of the club and the nice people they met. But why strip off to enjoy meeting people? Bare bodies, they said, removed social status-, but I wondered whether this is replaced by a new status when two parents explained to me that their son was wearing trousers because he had not fully developed yet. Is it escapism that attracts the nudist out to his camp? Is it a sort of mutual admiration society, or body cult? Does it provide a sense of community for some people who otherwise would live lonely lives. And what effect does nudism have on sex attitudes, particularly those of children? Official journal I didn’t find the answers at the camp. And the nudist movement’s official journal, the "New Zealand Naturist” is not much help either. Large nude photographs, so obviously posed, give it an obvious “girlie magazine” look. In the September issue, with a young naked girl on the cover. Frank G. Harris writes: “Pictures: Without the pictures, the nudist publications wouldn’t sell; if the publication didn’t sell, nudism wouldn’t grow, and anything that doesn’t grow will soon die. It’s just that simple.” Geoff, the president, said in the past a sexless image with all nudists having high minds had been presented. “But we are no different from any other people, and we behave in the same way as at any other club, except that we don’t wear clothes,” he said.

Walter did not agree with the idea that the movement’s magazine was necessary for the movement. He said it would not make a scrap of difference to nudism if there was no publication. So there seems to be some disagreement among nudists over the bare facts.

Jobs risked

Some risk their jobs and careers by becoming nudists. One told me that the utmost secrecy is observed by members, who never divulge names or adresses because of the risk some people run in becoming known to their employers as followers of the cult.

Most said they kept nudism to themselves, and to some of their friends. As I said, I just don’t see any point to undressing on such a scale, and as far as I’m concerned social nudism deserves to stay unacceptable.