N.Z. GIRLS LACK POISE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 129, 17 June 1937, Page 5

N.Z. GIRLS LACK POISE

-Press Association.)

Regimentation of Sport Opposed SUSTAINING OF INTEREST

(By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND. This Day. Hemarking that girls laoked poise and posture in New Zealand, Miss Elsie Bennett, general secretary of the Young TVTomen's Christian Association, Auckland, said in the cour'se of an intervieiv to-day that young people ought to be tauglit more about these nttributes. "I am definitely opposed to regimentation— there is enougli of that in industry — and unless aveuucs of sport are left open the last chance of this generation for iiiitiative will be bloeked," said she, referring to the contemplated settiug up of a national organisation for the control of sport in New Zealand. "It is unusual to find good^ posture in New Zealand, " siie added. "People I'rom abroad have reinarked on it." A contributing faotor wag that interest in sport was seagonal. Girls, for exampJe, took up basketball violeptly I'pr a few moutlis tlien dropped it. Spasmodic participatiou was likely to be detrimental. It was deairable that reQrention should be rational and sustained tbroughout the year. National cnmps for wider participation m recreation appealed to Miss Bennett. Tlie sports side should not be overemphasised, and . people should not be dictated to as to what games they sliould play. - "We have seen that in Germany and Italy, and the nation tliat indulges most in sport is not liecessarily the most sporting nation."