PHYSICAL FITNESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 254, 27 October 1938, Page 25

PHYSICAL FITNESS.

IMPORTANCE STRESSED. (From Our Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. "To me the question of physical fitness is one of the most important questions facing this country and the world to-day,"' said the Minister of Interna) Affairs and chairman of the National Council of Physical Welfare and Kecroa - tion, the Hon. W. E. Parry, to-day in speaking to the physical training directors of the Young ilen's Christian Association, who have come to Wellington for a refresher course. "The niachim age we live in has brought many difficulties and we have to be sufficiently awake to them." People were working in the mass and had .to be careful they did not think ill the mass. Once parents had boys or girls taught the violin or piano. Now they could press a button and get their music. They were, in fact, getting physically lazy —a very dangerous thing. They had to be able to use the machine intelligently so that it would save mankind from drudgery, and they had to be able to extricate themselves and participate in recreation for the building up of the human system. Mr. C. G. Falconer, chairman of the national committee of the Young Men's Christian Association, offered the organisation's service in aiding the Government's scheme. Others who spoke were the Director of Education, Mr. N. T. Lambourn, the assistant-director, Dr. C. E. Beebv, Mr. C. R. Bach, physical welfare officer of the Government, Mr. W. A. Jameson, secretary of the National Council of Physical Welfare and Recreation, and Mr. E. W. Herbert, director of the Sydney College of Physical Education and Recreational Leadership.