“Should Not Expect Govt. Direction”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31085, 14 June 1966, Page 19

“Should Not Expect Govt. Direction”

Sport and recreation should not need to look to a Government department to organise what should be a healthy voluntary activity, said the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr D. G. Seath, in Napier on Saturday night.

It was important in these days of increased leisure time that adequate facilities be available for young people and adults to use that time in healthy activity, said Mr Seath.

Recently there had been some public argument on the Government’s responsibility in the organisation of recreation, including the suggestion that a Government department be set up to direct the community’s recreational activities. People, it had been observed, were not sufficiencly educated to use their leisure hours to the best advantage. “It is apparent that there is some misunderstanding of the nature of Government en-

couragement to sport and recreation,” said Mr Seath. “The policy of the Government has always been to assist sporting bodies and youth organisations to carry out' their activities and to allow them to develop on their own initiative without restrictions and controls such as found in other countries.” The Minister, who was opening the new club room of the Napier Skating Club, congratulated the club on the way it had worked so hard to raise enough money to meet all its loan obligations. The rewards of this effort would be shared with other groups in the community, be-

cause the rink would be open to all. “The Napier Skating Club is the answer to those who would look to the Government for help, instead of getting ‘struck in’ themselves,” Mr Seath said. The club’s headquarters are now worth nearly £30,000.