THE RECENT "EXPOSURE" CASE.

Evening Star, Issue 7831, 12 February 1889, Page 4

THE RECENT " EXPOSURE" CASE.

TO THE EDITOK. Sir,—l have been waiting impatiently to see someone take up their pen in defence of the prosecution for alleged indecency at St. Clair. As no one seemf inclined to do so, allow me to say a few words on the matter. In the first place, I most emphatically deny that there is any impropriety in a woman or girl looking «.t meu while bathinjj if that; bathing is carried bn decently, as it should be. I say it ia a piece of impudence for an individual to undresw himself in full view of sight-seers in so public a place as St. Clair, and then to say that it is the fault of the public if they see him so doing. The onus of acting decently must be placed on the bathers. In this case, if there was not room in the dressing-boxes, it was the place of the bather to wait until there was room. If there is not sufficient accommodation at St. Clair, let the bathers put their hands in their pockets aud pay for the erection of more boxes. A subscription box Wi'.s placed at the halhh, and the amount collected was to be devoted towards the improvement of the baths; and after being left there some weeks it v/as found that the bathers had contributed the stupendous sum of threepence ! What is the use of bathers speaking about want of accommodation after this. Since the baths were opened I suppose some thousands of women and girls have witnessed the men and boys bathing, and all these persons have been most disgracefully vilified, and described as persons actuated by impure curiosity. Why '! Simply because a young man has been taught a proper lesson in decency of conduct. It seems to mo that, instead of defending such misbehaviour as he was charged with, the aim of every rightminded person should be to have the bathing so conducted that no one need be ashamed to look on, but rather have a pleasure in doing so; for the sight of others bathing excites a spirit of emulation, and so in time ev«ryone will be induced to learn to I swim. I In conclusion I would ask, what would | have been said had the defendant in this case been one of our so-called larrikins.—l I am, etc., Deokxct. Dunedin, February 12.