Physical Exercise.

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 1, 15 September 1910, Page 12

Physical Exercise.

(By FRANK WADDELL.)

Natare requires exercise, which is connected more with the health of the individual than most people imagine. Whether in vhe way of running, or walking, or gymnastics, it is essential to the well being and hearth of the community that the means of exercise should be within the reach of all. It has teen of benefit to hundreds as a means of health to follow up some form of exercise. It seems as if nature were not being treated fairly by the powers governing the educational system when the mental is being catered for without consideration for the physical. Our schools are responsible for the moulding of our men and women, the future politicians, tradesmen and wage-earn-ers of the I>ominior! ; and that system can, by introducing physical and health exercises that will mould them into shape, give us a race of people that will do credit to New Zealand. Germany has started, at bed-rock, and placed gymnasium work as part of the curriculum of the schools, in order to develop physically as well as mentally her sons and daughters in the race for commercial and intellectual superiority, for peace or war. They know that to have a healthy mind there must be <a physically fit and healthy body. Physical culture is, without a doubt, a splendid form of exercise, interesting and healthy for both sexes, and could with, very little outlay be connected with, every school course. A gymnasium should be regarded as a necessity in all towns and. cities, and be erected and placed at the disposal of the community by the Government or the municipal authorities. Nature must have some form of recreation; if not, she naturally falls back into the evils of laziness, which are a curse and a hindrance, not only physically, but also morally to the cleanness of life. The young people of towns and cities find the time hang very heavy upon their hands for want of some way to pass it ; and for that reason if no other it should be considered necessary to erect gymnasiums as healthy means of pastime. Amongst all forms of exercise there is none which can excel the Sandow system for simplicity, as it can be used in a small space, and is equal to any othar for health purposes. As a lung and muscle developer it has few equals, but of course various other forms have the same muscle and mind work ; that is, if you become proficient in them. Club-swinging is an exercise which is used as a display generally, and is very effective, as there are so many different exercises. Horizontal bar work is one of the scientific forms of exercises that requires suppleness and strength and plenty of practice, but it is not everyone who can become expert upon the horizontal bar. When one takes to it properly it is exhilarating and exciting work. The " horse " and the " parallel bars" are both nice means of exercise, and have a good variety of work to recommend them. There are other exercises which enter into the general work of the gymnast, and boxing is one of them. This is probably the oldest of exercises, and without a doubt one of the best. It has lasted for generations, and will continue to be one of the foremost exercises of the British race. No matter what can be said against it, it has a .great deal to recommend it. Take all the nations, and look at their natures: the Italian with his knife, the Frenchman with his pistol and sword, other nations with some other weapon to come to light in a quarrel ; not so the Englishman. He just side steps and places his blows upon the right place, and so ends the tussle. Boxing upon scientific lines is without a doubt the best of all exercises, and I hope to see the day not very far distant when women, will take up and use this form of exercise, if only as a weapon of defence. As a matter of fact, many women are already going in for " ballpunching.' , I think it is the duty of the Government of New Zealand to step in and help, by fostering the physical as well as the mental life of the people. A gymnasium does not cost much money, and could be added to Avith help from outside sources. The instruction could be supervised and organised by a scientific Piaster, who could leave the ablest of the pupils to carry on, and eventually become the instructors themselves, at \rery little cost to the> country and great benefit to all.