DRESS REFORM FOR MEN

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1933, Page 6

DRESS REFORM FOR MEN

MEETING ADVOCATES CHANGE THE MEDICAL POINT OF VIEW. GREAT BENEFIT TO HEALTH. There was not a large, attendance at the meeting called by the Mayor of New Plymouth yesterday, afternoon to discuss the question of dress reform for men, though there were many apologies from prominent business men. Mr. Griffiths said that since his suggestion had been given prominence in the Press he had been approached by many citizens, and in every case, except one, opinions had been most favourable. He was of the opinion that the present style of dress was most ginsuitable for the climate and that a change was very necessary. For many years they had been the slaves of convention, and he thought the time was opportune for some reforms. He hoped the lead would be given by business men and business firms. He was pleased to see that already many had not waited for (this move but had already adopted lighter and more suitable garb. “The present clothing that is worn by men generally,” said Dr. •G. Home, “does not allow of sufficient air, light or ventilation to the body. Since women have taken to lighter and less clothing there has been a really wonderful improvement in the health of that sex. He went on to say that from a physiological point of view cold was an excellent tonic for the body, encouraging the work of many of the most important organs of the body, especially those of digesion, on the heat-regulating centres. He took an example from the vegetable kingdom. Plants exposed to the air were always healthy and hardy, and when they were put in hot-houses or wellsheltered place they soon lost those qualities. The sensible form of uniforms adopted by nearly all the secondary schools had been a move in the right direction. They as a nation were patriotic and always took the lead from England, but England had a different climate do New Zealand’s. England was 15 degrees further from the equator. New Zealand should adopt more the lines of Italy and Spain. Men paid too much attention to conventions; the women had been far more courageous. “Supposing a woman had walked down Devon Street 20 to 35 years ago in her present light and coloured frocks; what a sensation there would have been?” said Dr. Home. ; “Why, I believe that even the old cab horses would have shied at her. Women have had the courage and have now a much more suitable and healthy form of dress.” He was most interested in the movement and hoped that it would succeed, added Dr. Home. It has all the backing that physiology could give it, and it would materially benefit the race. The men could add to their own comfort and their health by following the lead of the women and adopting a more sensible and suitable form of dressing. Mr. Walker endorsed what Dr. Home had said with regard to the dress of men failing to keep pace with that of women. He stated that to his knowledge some of the big establishments at Auckland had already adopted the reform, and their male employees now went about their tasks with light trousers, belts and open canoe type shirts. He did not consider it fair to ask men to work at this time of the year in tweed, suits; they could not do themselves or their work full justice. A' change in this direction would be to the benefit of all.

Other opinions expressed supported these views, and on the motion of Dr. Home it was resolved that a change was not only desirable but necessary, and to urge upon all business firms and the townspeople generally its adoption.