A UNITED FRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24414, 27 September 1940, Page 8

A UNITED FRONT

SPORTS ADVANCEMENT PROVINCIAL FEDERATION PROPOSAL GIVEN ENTHUSIASTIC APPROVAL The formation of a Provincial Federation of Sports Bodies was in effect decided upon by a meeting: held in the Council Chamber last evening of representatives of practically all the sports organisations of Dunedin. It was convened by the Dunedin Physical Welfare and Recreation Committee, and presided over by the chairman of that body (Mr H. Harris), and after the recently-appointed Area Recreation Officer (Miss Mary Martin) had discussed some of the ways in which a federation could assist sporl generally, the delegates gave the proposal their warm and unanimous approval. The stage to which they were asked to go was to express their approval of the scheme in principle. This was done, and further action will be taken at a second meeting to be held after they have carried their recommendations back to their respective organisations and been given official instructions. No Government Interference After expressing satisfaction with the excellent representation of sports organisations at the meeting, the chairman corrected any misapprehension that might have existed by emphasising the fact that the proposed federation would not be subject to Government supervision or control in any form. It would have complete control of its own affairs, and it was considered that a great deal could be done for the good of sport generally by an executive council representative of all sports. The fact that the proposal contained no indication whatever of Government interference was emphasised .also by Miss Martin. " There has been the suggestion already that it is the thin edge of the wedge," she said. "Nothing is farther from fact. The District Physical Welfare and Recreation Committee is an advisory body to the Government. That is all, and there is not the faintest intention of Government interference with sport in any way." This movement was not a new one, she added. It was already in full operation in other centres and had yielded considerable benefit. For the Common Good The sole aim of the proposal was to correlate all sports organisations so that they could advance common interests Turing to objectives ' which could be undertaken with hopes of a valuable degree of success. Miss Martin spoke first of the "unknown probblem" of the big proportion of New Zealanders who took no active part in snort. " There are so many people who just stand by and watch," she said. " One thing that could be undertaken is a survey of all people actively interested in sport. From such a survey an indication could be obtained of the magnitude of the task of recruiting the others to more than a watching interest."

The provision of adequate sports facilities, not only for adult sportsmen and sportswoman, but for the secondary schools —" the poor facilities available to the secondary schools of Dunedin have amazed me," Miss Martin said—was another direction in which much could be accomplished. Miss Martin mentioned several other ways in which much could be done and Jspoke particularly of the importance of retaining the interest in sport of boys and girls after they had lefl their secondary school. Many of them dropped out of sport because of perhaps less than average ability, lack of interest or lack of encouragement. All of those difficulties could be faced and largely overcome. ? War Effort In addition to work of this nature there was the possibility of a war effort by all the sports bodies of Dunedin. Something was being done already to raise funds, but perhaps there was scope for a good deal more, both toward developing physical fitness and in the raising of money. Miss Martin quoted the example of Invercargill, which was staging a monster pageant to-morrow in which 5000 athletes were taking part. The problem of obtaining sufficient playing areas in the city was one that prompted a number of the delegates to speak of past experience and the needs of the present and the future They were unanimous in their commendation of the principle of the proposal, and one after another expressed high hopes of it. A motion moved by Messrs W. A. Jenkins and H. D. Gillies expressing approval of the principle of the formation of a provincial council of sport was carried unanimously, and a provisional committee was appointed to draw up a tentative constitution and to convene another meeting after delegates have reported to their associations. The committee consists of Messrs H. Harris. W. A. Jenkins. D C. Jolly, R. Fulcher. C. W. Clark. M Hait». G. A. Martin. E. C. Isaacs. Mrs C. Sonntag. Miss M. A McKenzie and Miss Mary Martin.