FOSTERING SPORT IN LEVIN

Chronicle (Levin), 24 August 1946, Page 4

FOSTERING SPORT IN LEVIN

MOVE TO FORM A COUNCIL ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING If it is, formed, and ther-^ seenvs very little doubt but that it will b,e, the proposed council of sport iij Levin should have a very great and beneficial influence on sport in tl\e town. At a meeting on Wednesday evening practically every a,mateur sports body of Levin was' represented in the attendance o| some fifty ladies and gentlemen. The objects of a council, which are the encouragement and" fostering of sport in all its branches and , the provision of facilities for them, were explained to the delegates. They were then asked to return to their respective clubs, report'*o'n the project and attend a meeting on September 25 prepared to indicate whether or not their clubs would support the formation of a council. The meeting was convened by Mr. F. D. Chainey and Mr. W. Cribb occupied the chair. Among , the clubs represented in the delegates were the Levin and Central Bowling Clubs, Athletic Football Clut?, Levin- Waiopehu Tramping Club, Levin Boxing Club, Levin Golf Club, Levin Combined Arnateur Athletic and Cycling Club, Horowhenua College, Levin Lawn Ten,nis Club, Table Tennis Club, Horowhenua Softball Association, Horowhenua Basketball Association, Indoor Basketball Club and \yeraroa Cricket Club, At the outset, the chairman, Mr. Cribb, expressed gratification at the large attendance. He said that ' sport as a whole in Levin had gof into a rut, and had been there for years. The object of the council was to pull it out of that rut and keep it out. Mr. Cribb said that the New Zealand Council of Sport stood behind all sports councils and that if one was formed in Levin it would. get any amoiint of help from that direction. Continuing, he said that it did not matter what type of sport each person was interested in — swimming, athletics, football or bowling — the council would be there to help them all. By encouraging and assisting good healthy sport they would also.' be doing a great service for the youth of the town. He then called on Mr. Chainey to give fuller details of the proposed council, adding that it was not intended to set up' the council that night. What was "asked was that delegates report back to their clubs and then attend a, meeting later prepared to support the council or not. Mr. Chainey said that it was a, great pleasure to see such a large number present representing sq many different orgariis&tions. The main thing would be to have cooperation between the different sports clubs so that they could get better facilities for sport. At Playford Park there was 20 acres of land lying idle, where a gymnasr ium could be built to cater for all types of sport.. There would be special rooms for indoor basketball, boxing and a rifle range. Dressing sheds could be built and the park ♦could pi'bvide playing areas fop every type of outdOor sport as we$. If the forming of a council was successful, a queen carnival could be organised with other attractioris to help raise funds. The matn assistance for cleaj'ing Playforif Park and constructing the gymnasium would necessarily be voluntary to help keep the costs down. In conclusion Mr. Chainey saicf, "We are here to benefit the youth of the town, not to see what eacii club can get out of it." Mr. E. J. Stanley, manager of the Levin Boys' Training Centre, said it was imperative that every youth or boy had some opportunity of entering some sport. There was no igreater investment: :than' to: cafegk ■ fdr the youths of the town. He;saiq that the older spqrtsmef^ whp; h^d lived their spoltjhgdiyes had'l/dufty to see that the younger generatiop. had an easier and greater scopq for sport. The younger sportmen's job would be to carry on where the older ones had left off. An active council of sport would serve a greater purpose in Levin than any other civic body, as the crying need for all youths was something to do. Mr. Stanley concluded by saying, "We must foster and encourage this council of sport for in a few years time Levin will have a bigger population with more youths to cater for, and these youths must have something to dp." A number of questions were asked and a general discussion ensued. In the course of this it was pointed out that some sports, like tramping and swimming, would receive no direct benefit from the building of a gymnasium and provision of playing fields by the ' council of sport. On the other hand there were occasions when such sports bodies needed assistance in their activities and added weight behind representations. The council would supply those. The need for taking the long view in the 'matter was emphasised, and also for the sinking of parochial interests to the benefit of sport and the youth of the town in general. It was then decided that the meeting to discuss the formation of the council b.e held op September 25, that Mr. J. Meltzer/ Foot^ ball Association member on the executive of the New Zealai\d Council of Sport be invited fo attend, and that repi'esentatives of sports b'odies from Otaki, Manakau, Shannon and Foxton be asked to attend.