Recreation Facilities As Means Of Arresting Drift From Rural Areas

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 22, 17 February 1948, Page 6

Recreation Facilities As Means Of Arresting Drift From Rural Areas

The value of developing recreation facilities in rural areas as a means of arresting the drift of young people towards the towns was by members of the Royal Commission on Sheepfarming. The Commission heard evidence from two officers of the physical welfare branch of the Internal Affairs Department, Messrs R. J. Bender and C. L. Cross, who said- that considerable impetus might be given to such developments as the result of a conference early this year between the department and Federated Farmers. It was recognised, said Mr Bender, that many people left farming areas because the towns offered better social and recreational amenities.

Last year the physical welfare branch had paid special attention to fostering rural recreation; it would continue to make every effort in this direction, but it had to be realised that it was incumbent upon the country people to make the first move in obtaining the necessary facilities. The Government made grants on a subsidy basis of one to three, and approximately £50,000 could be allocated each year among the 16 physical welfare • districts in the Dominion.

The grants did not necessarily have to be made to or administered by local authorities—community groups, provided there was a reasonable guarantee of permanency, could spend such moneys. Most communities, said Mr Cross, wished to build some form of centre as a war memorial. Playing fields, swimming baths and tennis courts, as well as halls for indoor pursuits, were among the most popular suggestions, and the cost of all memorials approved by the Government would be subsidised by it £ for £. Englishman’s Warning

A warning that New Zealand, and, in fact, the whole of the British Empire, should not regard the present period of ephemeral prosperity as permanent, but should endeavour to consolidate progress on more permanent foundations, was issued by Sir George Aylwen, a member of one of London’s oldest stockbroking firms, in an interview. IJe also referred to the amount of pastoral land undeveloped or comparatively undeveloped in the Dominion. The drift of population to the cities, he said, was to be deplored. It appeared that many of the immigrants arriving under the ppst-war schemes were being allowed to remain in the cities.