COMMUNITY CENTRES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 October 1939, Page 3

COMMUNITY CENTRES

FOR HAPPINESS & HEALTH. Some districts of New Zealand have chosen the building of community centres as their Centennial memorials. The great value of such centres is emphasised in a publication of the British National Fitness Council. “A community centre —as the name implies —is a building or group of buildings in which the local community can find facilities for healthy recreation whatever their tastes,” it is stated. “Some are designed specially for young people;some cater only for grown-ups; others cater for both, but in buildings which provide distinct accommodation. In the absence of such a centre, the possibilities of healthy indooi’ exercise are, in many districts, very severely limited and, valuable as clubs and smaller organisations are, there is a great need also of centres which provide facilities on a bigger and better equipped scale.” It is mentioned that in smaller localities, where large schemes are not practicable, the village halls are becoming increasingly helpful. They are being used as the village gymnasium, and for recreational physical training, boxing and fencing instruction, folk dancing and active games. For such uses the hall should, if possible, be not less than GO feet by 30 feet and the walls should be 10 feet to 12 feet to’ the eaves. There should be a well-laid hard-wood floor, changing accommodation and showers and storage for gymnastic equipment when the hall is used for other purposes.