ATHLETICS FOR THE YOUNG.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 205, 30 August 1926, Page 8

ATHLETICS FOR THE YOUNG.

BEQUEST OF £10,000. FROM LATE HAMILTON RESIDENT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. A bequest which is subject to a strict condition has been made by a former resident of Hamilton, Mr. Herbert Smith, who died recently at Brisbane, leaving £10,000 to be used for the promotion of the health of the young people of New Zealand. The money will be administered by two trustees, his brother, Mr. C. B. Smith, and Mr. F. A. de la Mare, both of Hamilton. Mr. Smith had been a noted athlete, and had given special attention to> physical training and chest development. But he was rejected when he offered himself for service in the war. He was in England at the time, and, possessing ample means, built a munitions factory, and engaged in the work himself. He contracted chest trouble, however, from which he eventually died. Mr. Smith's illness naturally turned his attention to pathological study, and he appears to have come to the conclusion that some of the methods employed in physical training are on wrong lines. He has, therefore, left the sum mentioned for the purpose of awarding prizes for athletic competition among the youth of New Zealand between nine and fifteen years of age in such manner as to lead to the greatest possible number of them to become hardy and characterful men and women. These prizes are to be given over a period ofseven years, by which time he trusts the Government will have made all sports compulsory, as is the case in the best English schools, and he directs the trustees to take such steps as they may consider necessary to effectuate bis purpose. "I suggest to my trustees," says Mr. Smith in his will, "that they consider the question of concentrating on route marches or harriers for boys, and skipping for girls, should they prove practicable, but to assist them in making the greatest possible use of the money I wish them to offer the sum of £25 as a prize for the scheme which will, in their opinion, benefit the greatest possible number of children. "No scheme must have in any part of it conscious deep breathing, which I consider develops the very dangerous habit of holding the breath during the strain of exertion, but should be confined to sport promoting the fullest possible development of the nose and respiratory tract, especially between the ages of nine and twelve, and putting that foundation in the growing child which is so vitally nccessarv to adult health." Mr. Smith was a son of the late Mr. Christopher Smith, draper, of Wellington, and his remains will be taken to Wellington for interment. During his residence in Hamilton some years back, lie took an active jiart in political and local public life.