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SYDNEY'S NEW CULT
Sydney, October 2.
In an outspoken address to thc
Convention of the Women's Christ-
ian Temperance Union, Mrs. Grant
Forsyth, declared that immorality
was on thc increase. She cited the
want of refinement in Sydney as a
contributing factor and decried the
new cult of sunbathing in the
nude. She admitted that it might
be regarded as a private matter but
considered logically that when re-
ported in the newspapers it ceased
to be private. She did not care, she
said, whether those engaging in
this pursuit were the educated
wealthy or leaders of society. They
were certainly not cultured, they
were savages, behaving like sav-
ages.
Another delegate said she knew
that at Woy Woy and Point Clare,
mixed bathing in the nude had been
indulged in after midnight.
Mrs. Forsyth blamed a number
of other things for the increase in
immorality, among them greater
modern freedom and liberty, am-
ounting to licence, without the nec-
essary safeguarding cf knowledge
and lack oí home life training. Un-
desirable films, novels, and the ef-
fect of alcohol, she also held were
in part responsible. There is a
strong body of opinion in Sydney
opposed to the nudity cult, but
fashion's decree in respect to the
greatly abbreviated bathing cos-
tumes, seems to be practically forc-
ing the cult upon us.
There will be no nude sun baking
on any of the beaches under the
control of the Sutherland Shire
Council. An application by the
newly formed Australian Health
Club for permission to enclose por-
tion of Cronulla beach for its mem-
bers has been refused.
The Shire President (Mr. Shaw),
stated drastic action will be taken
to prevent any attempt at such sun-
baking or bathing.
The Secretary of the Australian
Health Club said last week in the
event of the club's application being
refused, the club would erect an
enclosure on land having a water
frontage offered by a private citi-
zen. There was no ban against nude
sun baking by men in baths.
The Waverley Council in the
coming season intends to make
special provision for comfortable
seats fer women who prefer to
bask in the sun inside of their dres-
sing sheds.
At Bondi the Surf Club authorit-
ies do not intend to relax the reg-
ulations governing the style of cos-
tumes on the beaches ths season.
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