APPRECIATION

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 37, 24 September 1952, Page 4

APPRECIATION

Sir, * May I, on behalf of the Executive of my Centre extend our thanks to those very good people who made our visit to your town, such a pleasant oue. To Colonel J. D. Swan and Mr G. Anchor and those associated with them we give our special thanks for their generous hospitality. 4 Also I would like to congratulate those Representatives who were present at the meeting and who bore with us during our ramblings. When we of the Executive see such a spirit of eo-operation such as was evident between the various bodies in a town, it augurs well for the success of the Taupo Marching Association when it becomes a fact. For the benefit of those organisations who were unable to attend the meeting, we left a copy of the Constitution etc., for your perusual with Miss "R. Anchor who| undertook to act as Scretary-pro-tem until the public meeting is called to form your new Association. May I encroach on your space a littile further to give a very brief resume of the Sport of Girls' Mareh'n"*. During the'season ended April 1952 over 5,600 girls actively took oart in this sport in New Zealand. This year there is every evidence that the number of active girl

marchers will be nearer 8,000. Is this sport a very strehuous^biieVyom1 readers may ask? No it is not a strenuous sport. We have girls marching who suffer from various disabilities which rule them out of other sports. For instance: one girl aiter the effects of Infantile Paralysis (left leg affected), another curvature of the spine, another with a Lad deformity of the right arm, These girls are not penalised for these physical disabilities nor do their team mates suffer. And so it gives this type of girl confidence in herself and, we claim, a ne\v outlook on life. We think it is the only sport in which girls both wealc and strong may participate. It teaches them correct deportment? the art of keeping fit and most important of all it teachers girls the difflcult art of tolerance and co-op-eration because without this latter no team can reach the top of the ladder in Marching. We are looking forward to our liext visit to your town on September 28th., ywhen we hope to give your readers a small taste of this sport.

I ani, etc.,

RAY

E. C.

HAMPTON,

Hon. See~

retai*y New Zealand Mareh Association (Inc.), Bay of Plenty Centre. Mount Maunganui, September 18th. r 1952. \ *