Politics Impede Progress Of Sport?

Chronicle (Levin), 4 November 1948, Page 4

Politics Impede Progress Of Sport?

Press Association J ;

(Per

WELLINGTON, Nov. 3. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry), addressing tlie Annual meeting of the New Zealand OSuncil of Sport, said he so.metimes felt a little irritable at the faet. that progress in pliysiea! recreation in the Dominion was not iiroceeding as rapidiy as could be desired. A good deal of the impediug of the progress had been due to politics which he had not been responsible for introducing. Nevcr had he attenipted to interfere with the Council or' Sport yet it had been stated1 by a member of the Auckland Life Saving Association that the (Joiincil of Sport was subservient to the DepaTtment of Internal Affairs. The vote wluch had been passed to assist athletic bodies, had been placed on the Estimates largely as the result of the activities of the Council of Spo.it. Already £3380 had been voted to surf life saving ciubs in the Dominion under the Pliysiea! Welfare Act. Votes *of £45,000 which had been made so far, had resulted in some ffne grounds beiiig put down and facilities being provideu for indulging in sport. There was more activity in sport in New Zealand today than at any previous period of its history. They should. try to concentrate on providing .buildings for indoor sport in all the principa! centres oi the Dominion and to provide competent, coaehes to train youtliful atlileles. In movirig the adoption of the annual roport Mr. Ii. H. Miles (Wellington) said that since the war the activities of the provincial Councils of Sport had lessened. Of 17 provincial councils only four were functioning satisfactprily. There was a challenge to tlie Council of Sport throughout New Zealand. An effort would be maje during the coming year to galvanise the pfovincial councils into renewed activity^ Tlie accounts showed a credit balanCe of £300. ' - It'was decided that a national survey of participants and facilities of Sport and recreation throughout the D.oniinion, be undertaken. * ^ The management committee Was authorised "to consider subsidies to provincial councils ;for administ'ration expenses " where necessary. It Was' decided to advise each provincial council to seek the eooperation of inunicipal bodies. . • The- election of officers resulted:-?-Patron, Dr. H. Pettit (Auckland) ; .president, Mr. J. Meltzer -(Wellington); vice-presidents, Mrs. H. D. Muir (Wellington) and Mr." J. 'C. Kirkland (SoUthland); exeeutive, Miss M. Armstrong, Miss B. Rogers,- Miss M. Wilkiiis, Messrs H. N. Ballinger, D. T. .Woodfield, A» C. Kitto. C. Jones;. auditor, Mr. K. A. Falconer; solicitor, Mr. W. R. Birks (Wellington), ' * ' ,