VIRILE YOUTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 792, 12 October 1929, Page 18

VIRILE YOUTH

Ponsonby Boys Develop Muscle^ GYMNASTICS AND BOXING ■'You put your hands just so—do this —and this —and there you are. There's really nothing in it,” said the instructor, undoing himself from a painful-looking knot and appearing once aagin as a human being. Then he disappeared into a whirling j blur as he turned a series of cart- j -wheels that would make the man in j the street shudder. The scene was the hall of All Saints’ Church, Ponsonby, and the acrobatic person was Mr. C. G. Palmer, who coil : ducts a gymnastic class for nearly 70 Ponsonby boys. Around the hall, divided into squads, husky Ponsonby youngsters were being taught how to do uncanny things with their bodies. It looked so easy, too. Ranging in age from 8 to 18, the boys entered into the exercises with zest. The parallel and horizontal bars, the horse, rings, and ropes gave them plenty of scope for the development of agility and muscle. On the stage another squad was engaged in ■watching two embryo boxers try to hit each other. Fun was fast and

jfurious, and everybody was kept going. “These horses are the only ones that pay,” said Mr. Palmer, performing an athletic miracle on the leather-covered creature. Mr. Palmer, who was gymnastic champion of King’s College last year and a general all-round athlete, aecided about a year ago to do something toward developing the youth of Ponsonby. Accordingly, he started a gymnasium for boys, the roll opening with 39 lads, only three of whom had ever done gym. work before. The number has never fallen below that, and has now risen to more than 60 boys, who are as keen as youth can be. To see their undeveloped bodies with strayv-like arms developing Strength is well worth the work, Mr. Palmer thinks. “I have three other King's College boys and two other men to help me,” said Mr. Palmer, “and we enjoy it as much as the boys themselves. The lads pay a penny a night, and every Friday at 7 o'clock in the evening they are eagerly waiting to start.” Funds for the purchase of apparatus have been raised by the instructors, donations from King’s College and the King’s College Old Boys’ Association. The gymnasium work, which is under the auspices of All Saints has received the whole-hearted assistance of the vicar, the Rev. W. Averill, and curate, Mr. Heaslip. Mr. Palmer’s assistants are Messrs V. G. C. Tisdall, D. C. S. Hain, A. M. Fraser, R. Stichbury and J. Stenson. “VVe hope to make- Ponsonby another name for virility and athletic excellence,” said Mr. Palmer. On Friday, October 35, a competition might well be held, while on the following Friday. November 1, the annual display will take place.