NATIONAL SPORTS COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 48, 19 November 1937, Page 3

NATIONAL SPORTS COUNCIL.

— Press ApsoHa Hon )

Operations Wilj Not Be Restrictive MINISTER'S ASSURANCE>

(By Tslearn ph

f — WELLINGTON', Last Night. i Considering the committee stages of! Jthe physical Welfare and Recreation1 (Bill in the House to*day, Mr. W. J.1 Broadfoot (Waitomo-Opp.) said sports 3 - # _ jbodies were looking forward to an announcement by the Minister on the question of grants. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W, E. Parry) replied that that was impossible until a survey had been Imade. ! Mr, W, A. Bodkin {Central Otago — Ppp.) expressed the opinion that the jGovernment should make a survey of the position as far as child life was (Concerned. That should be a point of commencement in the campaign. Mr.' S. G. Holland (Christchurch JNorth — Opp.) asked for what "period ' ,did the Minister intend to appoint members of the Sports Council: How flong would their te.rm of office last, he asked. He reiterated his plea that ihe Minister should not overlook Jack iLovelock when appointing a Director jof Physical Welfare. Mr. J. A. Lee said wherever it' was rpossible „ they must attempt to capture fthe mind of the people as well as their jmuscles. They did not want to develop llarge muscles at the expense of disintejgrated intellects. The debate was interrupted by the p.djournment at 5.30. The House continued the discussioa in committee of the Physical Welfare and Recreation Bill when it resumed at 7.30. Rt. Hon. G. Porbes said he thought they would get much better work if the Sports Council were much smaller. They would certainly get along much faster. Mr. J. Hargest said ha did not think the Minister could do better than collaborate with the Minister of Education and start his spheme for physical welfare in the schools. He expressed a ' fear that the Sports Council when set up would have no power at all. The Minister of Education (Hon. P. ; Praser) assured the House that Mr. • Parry and he had been In closest colla- ; boration on the measure and the whole ! question not only of the physical edu- ! cation of children but their health, food j and matters of hygiene, sunshine and j fresh air, would receive consideratioa. j Mr. K. J, Holyoake (Motueka — Cpp.) i suggested that £ve of the members of ' fche Council'of Sport should retire each ' year when fresh members would be ; elected to fill the vacancies created. He ; did not think Council members Should ; be appointed for the duration of .the i Minister 's pleasure. • 1 Mr S. G. Smith (Opp. — Taranaki) I asked the Minister to reconsider the i appointment of the Director of Educa- i tion and Director- General of Health to i the Sports Council. Both these men j trere administering large departxhents I and he considered they -would be far , too busy to take part in the activijfcies of the council. He asked the ' Minister ' to consider the appointment of two women, representing women 's sport, to the council. Mr Parry: We already have had women representing women 's sport on |the advisory committee. Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opp.— Central lOtago) advocated that organisations ,identified with the welfare of the youth of the country should have representa* tion on the Sports Council. Mr H. Atmore (Ind. — Nelson) congratulated the Minister, and the Government on bringing the measure forward, but directed attention to the necessity for the proper supply of nutritive foods for children in order to provide an i adequato basis on which the scheme ! could be built up. " , j The leader of the Opposition (Hon. j ,A. Hamilton) expressed the opinion ! that the appointment of a few good [ physical instructors would have pro- S vided a better basis for the scheme j than the huge organisation which the I Bill aimed at setting up. He asked j What the Minister had in mind in con- j hection with the proposal to set up dis- | trict • committees. The freedom of ' organising our own sport had been a ] blessing to the Dominion. Would dis- j trict committees control sports in- their j respective areas? If they did, then the j measure must be restrictive, because j those district aommittees, must have certain authority. i The Minister of Internal Affairg j (Hon. W. E. Parry) said it was very regrettable that the Opposition should attempt to create an s^mosphere of fear that the Bill would be restrictive.; People could go out and play as they liked. It merely aimed at setting up. facilities for recreation in central positions where everyone who wished would have access to them. Referring to Mr Smith 's suggestion that the Director of Education and the Director-General of Health should not be members of the committee, Mr Parry said both these men were very enthusiastic about the work of the committee and he thought it only right that the two Departments most concerned should be represented. The question of the appointment of women to the council would not be forgotten. He did not think the council could be truly representative unless women 's interests were looked after. In reply to a question by Mr Hargest, the Minister said it was true that the. public would have to pay for the Bill, but he was sure they would not ; objeet to paying for physical well-being and good health. It would be impossible for him to say what the total cost would be until there was a survey of the requirements ior the first year. However, he did not think tho cost would be so great. He assured the House that he would move as aoon as lio possibly could to have the job started. %'hs. ahorfc. jAiln W»« jpaaagd $MS£. «