FIT NATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 299, 17 December 1937, Page 8

FIT NATION.

YOUTH'S HELP.

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN.

MINISTER EXPLAINS

REPLY TO DEPUTATION.

The Government's intentions in connection with a campaign for national fitness were explained by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E.

Parry, when a deputation representing

the Auckland University College Students' Association waited upon him this morning with a. view to obtaining adequate playing area facilities for the 1100 students at tiie college. The deputation consisted of the president of the. Students' Association, Mr. E. H. Jfalstead. and Messrs. L. S. Drake and A. r. L'ostlewaite.

After congratulating the Minister on the interest he was showing in physical education and the physical well-being of New Zealand, Mr. Hal stead pointed out the luck of playing facilities at the university. A biology block was to be built, and the football club was not able to use the Training College grounds. The association was anxious to get a sports ground, a gymnasium, a hostel, and a system of physical certificates.

The Minister said that it would be better for a thousand people to take part in physical exercises than for a lew to be champions. The Government intended to try and get facilities for all sections of the community, but the difficulty would be to allocate the money that would bo necessary. The first thing under the proposed bill was to have a group of people to represent the national movement of physical fitness, and the object of the national' cbuncil would be the physical fitness of the nation. They would not represent any particular sport, but New Zealand.

Attention would have to be paid to the country districts, where they were badly off, and where there was a tendency for sons and daughters to leave their parents and go to the cities. Survey Proposed. When the council was appointed it was proposed to make a survey of the j facilities necessary. it was a pro- i gramme that would be too big to be carried out in two or three years. They wanted the support of the young people of the Dominion to push forward the ideal that was aimed at —a physically fit nation. No doubt the proposals would be criticised, but they could not help that. They would have the local bodies represented on the local committees, also the Defence Department on the National Council, as it had a lot of things they could use. The Government would from time to time appropriate money for the work, and local bodies would be given extended powers to assist. Lack of Enthusiasm. Mr. Parry added that he had come •cross some glaring instances Qf youn" people wanting assistance, and not being enthusiastic about doing some of the work. They did not want a "putty people. The worst disease was. laziness, And physical fitnese was the answer to laziness. A bit of work would not hurt anybody. New Zealand wanted an alert people who would be up and doing in time of national emergency. That was the spirit they wanted, and they also wanted a healthy virile people. When the Government star,ted the campaign it needed a national kick-off "with a red letter day to turn the comer for the new idea, and behind that the Government wanted the personality and push of the young people of New Zealand.

Mr. Hal stead said that the Students' Association hoped to get the use of Blandford Park, which they could lease on week days. The cost would be £150 a year.

At this stage it was suggested that a small art union would materially assist the proposal, and Mr. Parry replied that he was prepared to favourably consider the suggestion.