PHYSICAL FITNESS DISPLAY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20739, 24 February 1939, Page 6

PHYSICAL FITNESS DISPLAY

Enthusiasm displayed by the public of Hamilton and district in the first “youth parade” of Physical Fitness Week gave encouragement to those who believe it is possible in a democratic country to rouse a national spirit of pride in physical achievement without regimentation. The parade and the sports meeting were a pleasing demonstration of the physical quality of the young people of the district and of their recognition of the value of physical and mental health. It was a far more satisfactory display than many hoped for, and it is to be hoped means will be found to sustain the enthusiasm and make it a regular feature of the daily life of the people.

In some countries a remarkable degree of public display of physical fitness has been achieved by compulsion and regimentation, and there is no doubt that the health of the nations has thereby been improved substantially. But in New Zealand there is to be no compulsion. Encouragement will be given and physical education facilities will be available to everyone, but it will depend on the initiative and the enthusiasm of the individual whether the fitness campaign is the success it deserves to be. “Strength through joy” is the German wav of expressing the objects of the campaign, and there is something in the title that New Zealanders might emulate with benefit.

It has been said that New Zealand is paying too much attention to play and not enough to hard work, but in reality one is complementary to the other. The man or woman made physically fit and mentally alert by healthy play has greatly increased capacity for work. Healthy exercise does indeed increase the desire as well as the capacity to work. The least useful effort comes from the lackadaisical individual who is always too tired for either work or play. There is little doubt that the industrial output of the nation can be increased if the physical fitness campaign is developed intelligently. The psychological effect of the display at Hamilton should give a valuable impetus to the movement.