COUNCIL OF SPORT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 221, 18 August 1937, Page 2

COUNCIL OF SPORT

PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE. MOTION CARRIED. Ter Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 17. The meeting between representatives of sports bodies and the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) to consider setting up a National Council of Sport, was continued yesterday afternoon. Following a long by the delegates, Air K. McCormick, president of the New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association and secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletics Association, moved :

1. That the conference agree that national action is necessary to inculcate a wider realisation that physical fitness and physical recreation have a vital part to play in promoting a healthy mind and human happiness. 2. That the conference is of the opinion that, because of the wide scope of its activities, the national character of any council of sport and recreation can best be secured by the direct appointment of same by the Government as nn advisory^body and not by elective representation of sectional national interests and recommends to the Government accordingiy. 3. That the conference considers the whole question of sport and physical recreation generally of such national importance in connection with the national use of increased leisure as to warrant the immediate attention of the Government and people generally. The motion was seconded by Mr F. Dunn, of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. On the motion of Mr P. Coira, it was agreed that the basis of national sport in New Zealand should be the British Government’s proposed scheme. It was decided that the setting up of a committee to work with the Minister should be left to the New Zealand Olympic and British Games Council. Dr W. R. Fea (Timaru) said greater facilities were wanted than existed to-day. He referred particularly to swimming facilities. Death by drowning was a scourge in this country and he thought there was no doubt in this respect great value would result from the confei€nce. Improvement in the general standard of health would result in a barrier being raised against disease. Miss Sievenson, national secretary of the Y.W.C.A., speaking from the point of views of the needs of women and girls, said that one great need was the establishment of a sound course of physical instruction for teachers. Mr G. J. fc-ceats, AVaitaki Boys’ High School, stressed the importance of the work in schools. The roots of the success of sports lay in the plastic period of youth. He thought the present educational system, although doing good work, smacked too much of what was called scholastic. ' Greater stress was laid on the development of the mind and the body as a teaching subject had been greatly neglected. The mind and body were not separate entities and that, he, thought, was one weakness of the British proposals. Mr J. W. Heenan, Under-secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs, said he thought there was a possible danger of enthusiasm and earnestness putting too much stress on the words “education and sport.” They must strive for the maintenance of the spirit of play, and that was the basis of the enjoyment of life and even in the most competive forms of sport the play spirit was of the utmost importance. Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union, moved as an amendment that the conference approve the establishment of a council to provide for the development of facilities for and encouragement of physical fitness and recreation and the utilisation jof the greater leisure as a result of the 40hour week. The amendment was seconded by Mr J. H. Phillipps, 'Wellington Cricket Association.

The amendment was heavily defeated and the motion was carried.