PHYSICAL DECLINE

Chronicle (Levin), 18 June 1949, Page 5

PHYSICAL DECLINE

Press Assocfatlon J

Minister Expresses Concern Over Position

(Per

WELLINGTON, June 17. Deep concern at the apparent declinc in the phvsical standards of New Zea land youth was expressed by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry). He referred to the* report that many recruits oflfering for the Royal New Zealand Navy had been ro.iected during the past year for failing to reach the.. average -phvsical standard and to a Y.M.Q.A. official 's -report thar the general physical standard of New Zealand youth was capable of eonsiderable improvement. The Minister said it was alarming and distressing that in a country where youth ha^l the fullest opportunitiea for taking part in sport and healthy reereation, and where the climate was beautiful, food plentiful, and a high general standard of living available, there were still so manv physical weaklings. This. he said, could not be allowed to con tinue. Mr. Parry said no Government had done more to present youth wrtti oppor tunities for sport and healthy recrea tion than the present Administration. He outlined the Government 's longterm plan in this connection and the finaneial assistance it had given to various boaies. The Minister added that smco tlie present Minister of Lands (Mr. RKmner) had been in office 108 domainc throughout the country had been sex aside as places of rec-reation. At Pub lic Works camps throughout the country for many years past the Minister of Works (Mr. Semple) had cooperateo with the Y.M.C.A. and had ensured that this organisation had the fullest oppor tunities in eamps to encourage healtkv recreation. War memorial community centres involving Government subsidies totalling £163,000 had been approved for 21 io^alities and 60 others were under consideration. All this was being done as part of p long-term plan designecl to help givi the nation 's youth the finest of oppor tunities for developing their bodies ana stimulating their minds. The physica welfare branch of the Internal AffairsDepartment had done an immensc amount of work to encourage young New Zealanders to take part in sport and give themselves strong and healthy bodies. The branch had organised leadership courses throughout New Zealand. a notable one being operated recently at Christchurch and Marton in conjunction with the National Council of Churches at which 58 leaders took a mouth's "live-m" course of concentrated tuition. ~ , 1 In the near future the Department would institute training courses for coaches and officials of various sports, in cooperation with the national organisations concerned. Coaches, referees and umpires had been trained for indoor basketball and softbaH and help had been given to elubs for girls' marching, women 's criclcet, volleyball and archery. The formation of cyele touring clubs and the recently-formed New -Zealand Cycle Touring- -Associatioti • were largely the work of physical welfare officers, said the Minister. Learn-to-swim campaigns had been most successfully eonducted in many places throughout New Zealand, special recreation weeks, camps' for business girls and other activities had been organised — all for the purpose of stimulating healthful activities. "One would have thought we " haa been suecessful," Mr. Parrv said. "judging bj' reports on sports and recreational clubs and associations which we helped financiallv. Last year. for example, grants totalling elose on £47,000 were made to several hundrea sporting and recreational organisations. and reports on less than half of these show that they inereased their totai membership by more than 11,000. This 1 had taken as evidence of the value oi these grants. It is all more disturbing that recent medical tests should show that apparently a proportion of our youth is taking no advantage of the opportunities open to everyone. All sports organisations must seek more members. Evervoue must help encourage these young men and women who are letting the opportunity pass them by to take up sport and develop healthy bodies," concluded Mr. Farry.