PHYSICAL WELFARE AND RECREATION

Mt Benger Mail, 23 November 1938, Page 3

PHYSICAL WELFARE AND RECREATION

In outlining the progress made by the National Council in bringing into effect the provisions of Parliament’s legislation for physical welfare and recreation, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, stated that it was proposed to hold, during the summer, a national “Keep Fit Week” when an intensive effort would be made to waken the public consciousness to a full realisation of the national need. Already there was clear evidence that the preliminary campaign which resulted in the passing of the Act and the setting up of the National Council, had borne fruit. He had been advised that the physical classes of various voluntary organisations had very noticeably increased during the past six months. An important matter is the question of the setting up of district committees under the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act. Various schemes have been explored. At one stage it was thought by the National Council that the division of New Zealand into about twenty-seven districts, comprising groups of counties, boroughs, and town districts, would be the solution. After mature consideration, however, it was felt that the only really satisfactory approach would be to have a district committee for each local governing district-for each county borough, independent' town district, and urban road district. It is not proposed, of course, to immediately constitute a district committee for every one of these districts. lam making an immediate approach to the mayors and chairmen in all the principal cities, boroughs, anh town districts, and a selected number of counties, with the suggestion of the constitution in each case of a district committee consisting partly of members of the local authority and partly of persons appointed by the Minister -of Internal Affairs. Other appointees will not be representative of any organisations whatever; they will be elected because of their personal qualifications to render this community service. I hope that when those committees are functioning they will be regarded as important means of voicing the community needs and aspirations in the field of physical welfare and recreation. The Minister pointed out also that that both the Council and the Government were considering facilities for physical welfare and recreation by employers. It was recognised, he said, that the provision of any facilities was, of course, a matter in every case for employers and employees in individual businesses. The Government had no intention of exercising compulsion of any kind. It felt, however, that much could be done if it, itself, as the biggest ! employer of labour in New Zealand, were to set an example for others to follow. To that end the Department of Internal Affairs was at present in communication with .the New Zealand Public Service Association with a view, first of all, to starting physical education classses in Wellington and, subsequently, in all other towns where there was sufficient concentration of public servants. Efforts in that direction had shown pointedly the growing need for facilities. The only reason that those classes had not already been started in Wellington was the very great difficulty in finding a hall of suitable size. A very healthy sign of public interest is the expression of impatience with what is regarded as slow progress. To all I would reply for the moment that the preliminary to the erection of any great edifice is not merely the laying of its foundations, but the excavation for those foundations. The excavation has been completed and the foundations are being busily laid.”