Physical Welfare of Nation

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 28, 27 October 1937, Page 9

Physical Welfare of Nation

-Press Association.)

BILL INTRODUCED Sport and Recreation Council to be Established ORGANISING FACILITIES

(By Telegraph-

"WELLINGTON, Last Night. The groundwork for » a national scheme of physical development and sports organisation is laid down m the Physical and Welfare and Becreation Bill which was introduced ia the House to-day by Governor-General'a message. The Bill embodieS the general proposals which the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) has discussed with sports, bodies dnring the last few months. The organisation of the Goverament 's scheme is to be entrusted to a National Council of Physical Welfare and Becreation which is to be established under the Bill. It will oousist of the Minister of Internal Affairs as chairman, the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs as deputy chairman, the Direct-or-General of Health, the Direetor of Education, oue person xepresenting the aaval, military and air services of the Dominion to be appointed by the Minister of Defence, and not more than tea Dther persons appointed by the Minister of Internal Affairs tp hold office during his pleasure. Members of the Council other than the Minister and Goverament officers a ro to be paid travelling expenses and allowances. The Council is given power to appoint cdmmittees to assist it in its duties and in this xespect thexe is provision for making use of the services of co-opted members. The general function of the Council as set out in the Bill will be to adviso the Goverament on matters rel§.ting to the maintenance and improvement of tho physical wellbeing of the people by means of physical training, exercise, sport and recreation together with related social activities and to make from time to time such investigations and inquiries as may be necessary for that purpose.x The particular functions will be to review the existing facilities for physi* cal training and recreation, to make re* commendations regarding the need for new or additional facilities and the mauner in which they should be provided, to examine and consider proposals and applicationa for grants^and to disseminate information regarding" tfie; national value Of its' objpctive's, The Minister is to be glven power to define the districts for the detailed organisation of the scheme and, to appoint district committees which "will work under the conttol and direction of the Council. Anotber section of the Bill empowers the Minister to make : grants , out . of moneys appropriated by Parliament to local authorities and voluntary organxsations for the purpose of providing or aiding in the provision of physical and recreational facilities. These facilities are to be regarded as including gymnasiums, playing fields, swimming baths, bathing places, holiday camps, camping sites and buildings required by .organisations interested in physical training and sport. Grants ean also be made toward the expenses of the local authority or voluntary organisation in respect of the training and supply of instruct* ors and leaders and toward the general or speeific funds of any voluntary organisation. The Minister may make these grants subject to any conditions which he thinks fit to impose. Local authorities are authorised to spend moneys on facilities and equipment and on the provision of centres for physical training and sport, and their activities in this direction are to be regarded #s public works within the meaning of the Public Works Act.

These facilities or centres may be managed either by the local authority itself or handed over to a voluntary organisation and local" bodies are also cmpowered, to make grants towards tho work of snch voluntary organisations for the purpose of providing the necessary facilities in their particular districts. Local bodies are to be permitted to raise loans by special order without polls of Tatepayers. Commissions of inquiry may be appointed to assist tbe Council in any matter bearing on its activities and the Bill also provides for the appointment of a physical welfare adviser and such other officers as may be considered necessary. The usual provisions regarding- the presentation of an annual report and the making of regulations by Order-in-Council are included in the Bill. The Minister of Internal Affaira (Hon. W. E. Parry) introducing the Bill, said there was a movement all jver the world in connection with the ohysical fitness of the human xace. The Bill could not be other than a shorfc measure because the -whole problem was merely in a stage of development— *in -act it provided a foundation for the levelopment of a very important work n this country. He stressed the reationship of the Bill to education, deence and health, and said that though here was provision for the appointnent of various peoplo interested in port to the Council those appointments iid not 'carry the definite representaion of any particular sport on that Jouncil. The Bill also made provision ,'or the building up of subsidiary comuittees in other parts of the country •nd for district organisations for the ontrol and organisatoin of sport and icreation in the country districts. One of the first duties of the Nation.1 Council, said Mr. Parry, would be to lake a survey of the requirements •.ecessary for putting the Goverament 's chemo iuto pporalion, .Until this ia?i

'ey was made it was not known what he cost would be. The Goverament inended to apportion the money avail•ble to different parts of New Zealand nd would not give all of it to one parieular area. It would be the duty of he Council to* make recommendations o the Goverament for its consideration nd the Bill provided for grants to )ort from local bodies. The Bill's )jectiv,e was to develop the physical fitness of the people, not to develop champions, and under its provisions local bodies would be able to assist in every way and would be able to borrow money to help in carrying out the Bill's objectiveS. Dealing with Clause 14, which gives power to set up commissions to conduct investigations, Mr. Parry said the Goverament had to be very careful in the steps it was proposed to take because the scheme was an entirely new departurc.Mr. J. Hargest: Is there any compulsion? Mr. Parry: No. There is no intention of compulsion whatever. The Minister continued that ho had emphasised in previous speeches that there would be no idea of compulsioa nor of the regimentation of sport. In answer to a question by Mr. S. G. Smith, Mr. Parry said the Bill only set out that local bodies had power to vote sums for sport. They already possessed that power. All the Governmeht was asking was that local bodies should co-operate. The necessary money for putting the scheme into operation would be appropriated by Parliament. ■,The Goverament was not asking them j to do more in New Zealand than was being done in other countries. Tho Bill was read a first timo.-