THE NATIONAL PHYSIQUE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 135, 8 June 1911, Page 5

THE NATIONAL PHYSIQUE.

GENERAL GODLEY'S OPINION. NO NEED FOR CONCERN. General Godley, Commandant of the New Zealand forces, had something interesting to say this morning, relative to the physique of young New Zealanders — a topic of considerable controversy throughout the Dominion at the present time. Asked by a "Star" representative for his opinion, General Godley said that he had been rather surprised at the trend of recent critic—— on this subject. Since his arrival be had toured pretty well every pa-rt of the Dominion, and had had ample opportunity of judging the physique of the youth of this country. All that he could say was that he was very favourably impressed indeed, and saw no Teason at all for any concern about the physical development of young New Zealanders. At times, of course, as was only to be expected, lie had met cases i where physical exercise was required to ' set up a youth lacking development. In this connection he did not mean that he I advocated the use of dumb-bells and ; clubs, but rather the adoption of the Swedish system of physical training. Generally speaking, however, t-he young men ' ill New Zetland would, in his opinion, ■ compare very favourably with those of : any other country in the world from the ' point of view of physique. Yesterday he ' had visited the Auckland Grammar i School, and this morning he paid a visit to King's College, and the boys at both these institutions, particularly in the older cadet companies, impressed him ' very favourably indeed. He, of course, ; could not speak of the position from a 1 medical point of view, but summing up ■" the youth of New Zealand as he found - them, be could only remark that in his " opinion there was no need for anxiety * as to their general physique, for it was 3 excellent, f .