PHYSICAL FITNESS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 220, 17 August 1937, Page 6

PHYSICAL FITNESS

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. THE GOVERNMENT’S AIMS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 17. Representatives of sports bodies in the .Dominion met to-dhy in conference for the second time this year with the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) to consider the setting up ot a National Council of Sport and Recreation.. Mr Parry said that the question before the conference was to consider whether a body as suggested by the Swimming and Life Saving associations was desirable and whether a national body be appointed in an advisory capacity to the Government, independent of the sports bodies. Mr Parry mentioned the Bill that had been' passed in Lngliuid, but said that in New Zealand the sports organisations were being consulted before the Bill was prepared. The views of the sports organisations were being solicited mainly 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 the sports bodies lor sport and recreation and the attainment of physical fitness by the nation. The scheme decided upon must embrace the whole field of physical culture. It should therefore include arrangements for increasing the s.upply not only of gymnasia but also of playing fields, swimming 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 the particular area and to consider how unsatished needs could best be met. They would constitute a chanpel through which applications to the national body for grants could he made and the committees, when forwarding applications, would express their views as to the relative importance of the various proposals, and any other comments it may be necessary to make. Mr Parry emphasised that he did not desire to create a regimentation of sport or recreation. “You are well aware that the actual provisions of facilities are at present insufficient in amount and sporadic in incidence and, hampered as they were by lack of funds for development, they could not do more than touch the fringe of the problem. It is to make good these deficiencies that the present proposals are put forward. “The first function of any national organisation set uj> by the Government will be to survey the whole field of recreation to ascertain incidentally (a) What are the existing facilities; (b) what additional or new facilities arc required now or are likely to be required over a period of years; (c) how those should bo provided and how best used, and, naturally, there would be co-operation between the organisation and the work of the Departments of Health and Education and contact and co-operation between sports bodies and the primary and secondary schools. “I wish to say to the sports bodies and to the people that the theme underlying the proposals 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 a nationally functioning organisation on the lines proposed will give a vigorous impetus towards the achievement of the good health and physical development of the nation.”