TRENTHAM CAMP

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 64, 9 December 1919, Page 2

TRENTHAM CAMP

NEW GYMNASIUM OPENED.' ' Yesterday afternoon the , new Y.M.C.A. cvmnasiuin at Trentham Camp was opened by a fine display of physical exercises; games, uno. nynnrnstics by tile itudente of the (J. H.Q.' School. There was ' a larce attendance, and among those present were Ma jor-Gener*il Sir Alfred Robin, K.C.M.G.. C.B, General Officer Coramandine New.Zealand Military Forces; Jiaior-General 1!. C. Cimytor, LieutenantColonel Sleeman, 1.G.5., • Lieutenant-Col-onel Gard'uer, D.5.0.. Lieutenant-Colonel Powles. C.M G:, Commandant Trentham CaniD: Lieutenant-Colonel G. F. C. Campbell. CM G.. Major N. W. B. Thorns, D.5.0.,M.C. Major Blair, D.5.0., Camp Adiutant. Messrs. 11. W. Kersley (chairninn of the National Council or the Y.M.C.A.K C. M. Luke (chairman of the Military Committee), A. Varney (generul national secrctaiy), and T. M Wilford, M.P.

■ Slnior-General Robin was to have presented a decoration at the beginning, but as he was delayed in town, the ceremony was und tlie gymnastic display commenced. The irvnuiiisiuni, is a line building, with a floor suace of 12,000 odd square feet, and with a 10ft. way on both sides for dressing-rooms and stores. The. Y.JI.C.A. orovided the material necessary, and the tomv the labour. Tho equipment was ordered bv the National Council of the Y.M..0.A. before tho armistice, after which event it was purchased by the Defence Department from the council. The gear was specially made, ami' includes ciimbiiiK ropes, adouble beam, horizontal bar. vaulting-horse, basket-ball fixtures, besides Tjoxin'jr gloves, niediciut balls, and fencing gear. The display (.•umim.'iieod with massed exercises, and included marching, ranning, jumping, and games, besides physical "jerks." Uoxing is a compulsory subject for the training of Imperial Army recruits, antf a demonstration of leesons in boximr according lo the Army system Vim Dart of the programme yesterday. The parallel-bar exercises and pyramids earned special applause. They were done in a manner lc-aving little to be desired. The exhibition of exercises on 1:1 m double beam and bar stalls were excellent, considering that the' apparatus luw been nnvt of the gymnasium but little over a week Vaulting-horse exercises aro another recreational item, and ther were uerfornled in an excellent manner. Perhaps the moat laughable item ou the programme was the aemonstration of brain stimulating exercises and sames, These- tabulated games were devLwd to replace the stereotyped physical training in the field, for trench-weary nnd war-worn troops. Two games of Knsliot-ball ended the programme . . General Robin briefly stated that , the nhvsieal exercises which had been performed had niao'o the Main Body the fine lot of troops theywern. He congratulated tho students for their, fine- performance. (Applause.)