OUR BEACHES AND SUN-BATHING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 30 November 1933, Page 11

OUR BEACHES AND SUN-BATHING

[To the Editor] Sir,—Mr Bryant’s letter in Tuesday’s paper, which derided the prcsent-ihiy fashion of dress on our beaches, calls loi a word of defence of it. L myscli do no sun-bathing in wet garments, only because rheumatism besets me u l do. l-lappy are those able to do it. U * s wortli pondering that the whole British Empire is going bathing and sun-bath-ing, wherever tlie Empire gets a chance to do so. The fact is, that righteousness and right conduct can be expressed in more ways than one only; and our Empire has found out a new way these times re bathing. 'There is a fine rule, when it is wisely applied, in our old English motto, “Honi soit qui mal y pense.” My bathing is brief always; also arc brief my moments on beachesam too busy to linger long. But I have a great impression of the- entire good conduct of the majority of t.liise who frequent beaches —and ot the happiness and joy tlie whole thing gives them. You “can’t put the clock hack,” anil tiny children brought up to play on beaches in bathing suits will still regard such suits as the normal garments for beach wear later op ! Clothes are not the whole point of this particular moral question. The chief point is what is growing more and more among us—a. fine self-restraint that shows in general conduct. Our beaches show this point in the conduct ot New Zealand people all over this land. 1 should be sorry if Mr Bryant’s letter made any girl or woman uneasy re sun-bathing. —I am, etc., GRACE FOX. Nelson, 29th Nov.