Bathed In Nude At Whangarei Town Basin

Northern Advocate, 9 January 1948, Page 5

Bathed In Nude At Whangarei Town Basin

YACHTSMEN FINED

AUCKLAND yachtsmen cannot bathe in the nude in the Whangarei Town Basin. Four of them learned this in the Whangarei Court today, when each of them was fined £2/10/- on charges of having behaved in an offensive manner within view of a public place.

The men, who admitted the charges, were Joseph Geoffrey Clark, 21, fitter and turner, Northcote; David McConnell, 18. timber worker, Mt Eden; Raymond Albert John Tilby, 18, car painter, Mt Eden; Alexander Couper, 21, optical mechanic.

Investigating complaints, Sergeant J. Greenlees said that with Constable T. Agnew he had gone to the Town Basin and had seen Clark on a yacht naked.

Further inquiries had shown that the other three accused had been bathing in the nude and had made no attempt to hide their nakedness.

under the impression that they could come to Whangarei and do as they liked, Sergeant Greenlees continued. Clark had threatened to throw into the water a man whom he suspected of having spoken to the police. When arrested none had seemed penitent and they had to be shown that they could not spoil the pleasure of decent people frequenting the Town Basin. HOSPITALITY ABUSED They had acted in an offensive manner toward some women in a dinghy and their behaviour could be plainly seen from the shore. They could have been charged with a more serious offence, but witnesses would not come forward. None of the accused had been in trouble previously. All had spent last night in the lock-up. All four accused told Mr G. A. Bethell, J.P.. who was on the Bench, that they were sorry for their behaviour.

GLORIED IN NUDITY In fact they had seemed io glory in their nakedness and in attracting attention. One man had told the police the spectacle was the most disgusting he had seen. Three of the accused comprised the crew of the yacht Gladdy, while the other was one of a launch crew.

The police had received numerous complaints about the behaviour of yachtsmen and bad language, particularly at nights. All the accused had stated that they had fallen into the water while fooling about in a small boat and had thought there would be no harm in discarding their clothes and having a swim.

“There has been trouble this year from yachtsmen,’’ commented Mr Bethell.

They would not have acted in this manner in Auckland and they had to realise that people in places such as Whangarei were just as decent as those in the city. Yachtsmen were welcome in Whangarei, but the people expected that the hospitality of the district would not be abused.

Apparently, however, they were

“It looks as if some of you should not have been allowed to leave home and you cannot go back too soon for the people of Whangarei,” he added, in imposing the fines.