A TAIHAPE CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3392, 23 January 1920, Page 4

A TAIHAPE CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

There was another very successful meeting held‘ in Taihape on Wednesday, a.nd although it was of an entirely different character, and for entirely diflerent objects, it was of little less importance than that above referred to. Next to furnishing the means of human life, is‘ to develop that life to the highest possible point physically and intellectually. Military Medical Boards have plainly discovered to us that physical development of the race has been woefully, dangerously neglected in the past; and leaders throughout our Empire are instituting and encouraging whatever means can -be adopted for wiping out the stigma that Medical Boards have disclosed, It is well known that without exercise man’s physical functions become atrophied, and do not fill that purpose in our physical economy a. Wise Designer intended they ‘should do. It is -in time of war, in periods of greatest stress we experience the fact that there has been truly fatal neglect to make the

Empire’s manhood what _it naturally should be from a physical standpoint. Among the means for bettering the physique of "our race such institutions as Caledonian ‘Societies are being encouraged. It will not be denied that Scottish regiments in the late war were amongst the best fighters to face the Teutons, and this fact is explainable only -in a superior physique begat of the tyraininvg most Scotehmen in the country get for competing at their annual Caledonian gathering. Noth‘mg is more depl’Es’sing than to learn that half the race is physically unfit to protect their Empire against the ravages of an enemy that would seize it and enslave its people: and it is still more depressing to learn that laxity in means for physical development is almost entirely to blame for the condition so many people have drifted into. As we have said, leaders of the people. in various parts of the Empire are encouraging the formatilon of Caledonian Societies as a duty ‘they owe to the race. These particular societies have evolved a programme of physical culture that is comprehensive, and medical men have declared that it furnishes a complete means for the -full development of man’s physical nature. Such a Society was as urgently need-ed in Taihape as elsewhere, and at Mr W. McLenn’an’s invitation some fifty or niore people met‘and unanimously decided to found a Caledonian Society for Taihape and the district, and in this issue we are glad to publish a report. of what took place at that meeting. Nothing which tool: place calls for comment; there» was a difierence of opinion as to whether the programme should "be composed of entirely open. events, which, of course, means that professional athletes could compete in everything, or Whethcl‘ there should be events for amateurs solely. As the ranks of professionalism are fed :Erom the .amateur ruck, we are of opinion that aniateurs Should receive some encouragement to work up to the professional status. At the ancient Olympian sports there was 110 difierent-iation, the best was striven for, and the laurel wreath invariably crowned the head of the ‘best. Whether that arrangement was eondu.cive to most rapid and -universal culture is problematical, We think not, and We do not believe a -couple of events for amateurs will deter any athlete in other parts of the Dominion from coming to Taihape to endeavour‘ to» set the Ta.-ihape ldistrict youth a lead. As showing the widespread afiiliation of Caledonian. Societies, Mr W McLennan informed the meeting that the five shilling ‘ticket admitted the holder to any Caledonian gathering in New Zea. land, and Mr Brodie, of the Wanvanui Society, further stated that it \:ould introduce ‘the ‘holder to any Caledonian meeting‘ in me “W-',,.ldi_ It will, therefore, be recognised that Caledonian Societies are of world-wide Significance; that they are realised as organisations 'that are helping mate;-i. 311)’ ‘ill retrieving the liealth and physique ofthe ‘race that has hitherto been allowed to drift till onlyabout one half is fitt_,e&- to -defend the Empire when called upon. It is liopednthat-,

Taihape. will press ‘Hon: deternlinedly and enthusiastically, -so’ ‘that when Caledonian teachers, who are. Being imported from -Sc~o»t'land, arrive in New Zealand, one of them may be legitimately claimed as a fixture in this district.