NUDE BATHER

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1939, Page 5

NUDE BATHER

YOUNG WOMAN CONVICTED [FEB FBEBS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND. March 10. Seen bathing in the mole on Takapuna beach last Monday by a number of persons, including school children and a police constable, a young single woman, whose name was ordered to be suppressed, appeared before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker. S.M.. in the Magistrate’s Court, admitting the charge of wilfully and obscenely exposing her person on the beach at a time when it was being used by the public. She said she was bathing in the nude entirely for health reasons, and did not realise that she was offending anyone. Sub-Inspector .1. Fox said that the defendant's habit to bathe in the nude was investigated by a constable because. of complaints. When he went to the beach at 3.55 p.m. last Monday, he saw her in the nude, splashing aboul, and often standing up in water about 18In deep. There were two young men and three young women standing watching her, and when the constable walked towards her. she left the water quite openly in front of him. She walked about a chain before drying herself on a towel and putting on a pair of shorts. When accosted by the constable, she said that she was an associate of the “Back to Health" movement, continued Sub-Inspector Fox. She did not consider that there was anything wrong in what she was doing, and frankly admitted that she had previously bathed in the nude on the same beach, including an occasion when boys and girls from the Takapuna Grammar School passed close to her as she lay nude on the beach. Her action was quite improper. She lived at Takapuna with her parents, and was not employed. She intended going to the islands shortly for a holiday.

FOR HEALTH REASONS. Asked why she had acted in this way, the defendant said that, she did so entirely for health reasons- She did not belong to a nudist club, but had practised nudism ever since she could remember. “I do not know why that should make any difference,” said the S.M. “There is not very much difference between nudism and the latest bathing costumes. Why did you not wear a costume?” "I wanted to get the sun's rays all over my body," defendant answered. “It. cured me of skin disease. 1 realise I have been foolish, and might have known that other people would not have the same views on the subject as I have.” The S.M.: Do you consider you are entitled to do it again? Defendant: Certainly not. I now realise my folly. I do not see what difference it would have made if 1 had a bathing suit, on, but nobody could understand that. The S.M. said that he could only conceive that an element of insanity would cause a woman of the defendant’s age to act as she had done. A kink was indicated, and the defendant had been a disgrace to herself and to her sex. Nor was she justified in such a disgraceful act, even judged by modern standards. '“I do not think the punishment is appropriate, but you will be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months,” the Magistrate added, “Understand that there is to be no repetition of this sort of behaviour,, or you will be brought up and dealt with.” Tn consenting to the defendant’s application for the suppression of her name, the S.M. said that, taking the view he did, ho thought it was advisable that her name should not be published, as it might lead to all sorts of complications.