PHYSICAL TRAINING

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 30, 30 October 1942, Page 6

PHYSICAL TRAINING

Regimentation Denied By Minister PROMOTION OF FITNESS “Nothing could be further from the truth.” said the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Barry, when referring yesterday to an impression in certain church circles that the Department of Internal Affairs was scheming for a regimentation of youth on the lines of the movements in Germany and Italy. The Minister added that the New Zealand system had its foundation in the basic principle of democracy—freedom of action within reasonable laws required for the general welfare, of the community. When the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act was put into operation, said Mr. Parry, he had made it clear that the policy ( would bear no resemblance to the regimentation schemes of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, where the training of the body was accompanied by the cramping of the mind into the narrow moulds prescribed by the dictators. The department’s officers were instruct'/:! to act wholly on national ground, clear of sectional interests. They were expected to co-operate as much as they could with existing organizations which could benefit from the officers’ expert assistance.

“Of course, during the war,” Mr. Parry added, “the main programmes are concerned with the promotion of physical fitness for men and xvomen linked up with the war effort. In peacetime the great aim would be in helping the people in various age groups to make good use of leisure hours in improving their health of body and mind with suitable exercise and recreation, including tramping and camping, group travel, and so on. With this gain of fitness for daily tasks their happiness in life would be increased. In the achievement of this ideal the department naturally expects to have the co-operation of men and women who have the right qualities for voluntary leadership in association with the physical’ welfare officers.”

SELECTION OF SPORT

Preference For Tennis And Swimming

A scheme established under the Physical Welfare and Recreation Aet enabling boys and girls on leaving school to indicate in a card system the class of sport they wish to continue, had had marked success, said the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry, last night. Last year over 12,000 boys and girls had filled in recreation cards, and they would thus have the opportunity of keeping up their favoured sport. Some interesting sidelights as to the sporting preferences of boys and girls were shown in card returns, said the Minister. Tennis and swimming were the most popular, and next, Rugby football for boys and outdoor basketball for girls. With indoor sport table tennis had no competitor. Many boys and girls indicated a desire to take up gymnastics. Cricket was also placed very high in the preferences. “The co-operation of teachers in the work has been very helpful,” Sir. Parry said. "It is recognized the recreational card scheme is particularly valuable at present, when it is realized many clubs are struggling for existence owing to the war. The aim is to help sports clubs from going out of existence and present results are very encouraging.”