LIMIT IN BATHING ATTIRE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 22

LIMIT IN BATHING ATTIRE

Bath Superintendents Puzzled

What is the ideal bathing costume? Four hundred men and women from all pabts of Great Britain whose work brings them into daily contact with swimmers debated this topic recently at the annual conference of the Na- ! tional Association of Bath Superin I tendents. But not one could describe i file costume which, combining decency j witli freedom of movement, would i please everyone. Mr. E, 11. Whittle, manager-engineer ■ of the Holboru Borough Baths Department. was vague when he introduced the subject. "No costume should be worn in a swimming bath." he declared, “which does not serve tile purpose the overwhelming majority of the British public expect it to. and that majority representing millions of people set a national standard of decency which should be maintained."

I Mr. Baker, of Hastings, set another poser when he asked: “Why is it that I the growing practice of wearing shorts

in the water is decent in the sea and in open-air baths but. indecent indoors?” But Mr. Whittle declined to be drawn. "If the conference rose as one man and asked me to define a decent costume for indoor and outdoor use’ lie said. "I should refuse. ‘ Mr. Hollingsworth, of Blackpool, described as “bravado” the practice of a iiumbqr of bathers of rolling their costumes down to their waists when leaving the baths. “If all bathers were compelled to wear their costumes pulled down to their waists until they entered the water and immediately after leaving it. we should find 90 per cent, both resenting it and refusing to be dictated to." he said. “Unfortunately, we have' no guidance, even from the manufacturers. In tiie matter of costumes, but I think, generally speaking, that those turned out to-day are adequate,”