HEALTHY MINDS AND BODIES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 180, 17 August 1937, Page 7

HEALTHY MINDS AND BODIES

-Press Association.)

Minister Reviews National Sport Proposals PROVIDING FACILITIES

(By Telesraph-

WELLINGTON, This Day. _ Representatives of sports bodies in the Dominioix met to-day iu conference for the second time this year with the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. VV. E. Parry, to consider the settingup" of a National Council. of Sport and Recreation. Mr Parry said that the question betore tbe conference was to consider whether a body as suggested by the Swimming and Life-Saving Associations was desirablo and wlxethei a national body should be appointed in an advisory capacity to the Government, indepeudent of the sports bodies. Mr Parry mentioned the Bill passed in England but said that, in New Zealand, sports organisations were being consulted before the Bill was prepared. The views of sports organisations wero solicited inainly on the possibilities of the formation of a national body to carry out the policy. That policy was to embrace a plan in co-operation with sports ■ bodies for sport, recreation and tbe attainment of pliysical fitness of the nation. Th© scheme decided upon rnust embrace the whole field of pliysical culture. It should therefore include arrangements for increasing the supply, not only of gymnasia, but also of playing fields, swimmiug baths and other means of physical recreation. It was particularly essential that local interest should be stimulated and local effort co-ordinated to this end. It seemed desirable that local committees should be formed in various centres for the purpose of^examining the needs of each area and consider how unsatisfied needs could best be met. They would constitute a channel through which applications to the national body for grants could be made and committees, when forwarding applications, would express their views as to the relative importance of the various proposals and other comments it may be necessady to make. Mr Parry emphasised that he did not desire to create regimentation of spoi-t and of recreation. "Yon are well aware that the actual provisions of faeilities are at present insnfficient in amount and sporadic in incidence and, hampered1 as it is by lack of fufids for development, we cannot do more than touch the fringe of the problem,'' said the Minister. "It is to make good tliese deficiencies that the present proposals are put for ward. The first funetion of any national organisation set up by the GoVernment will be to survey the whole field of recreation and to ascertain incidentally : (a) What are the existing faeilities ; (b) what additional or new faeilities are required now or are likely to be required over a period of years ; (c) how those should be provided and how best used. "Naturally there would be co-opera-tion between the organisation and the work of the Departments of Health and Education, and contact and co-opera-tion between sports bodies and primary and secondary schools. "I wish to say to the sports bodies and to the people that underlying the pro-posals is a sincere and earnest desire to .cultivate and stimulate physical fitness and clean healthy bodies. Every idea and suggestion making for the accomplishment of this objective will have my deep consideration. I believe wholeheartedly that, with a national functioning organisation on . the lines proposed, we will give a vigorous impetus towards the achievement of the good health and physical development of the nation." (