PHYSICAL CULTURE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13378, 20 March 1909, Page 3

PHYSICAL CULTURE.

—. , MR T. S. TANKARDS IMPRESSIONS ABROAD. After ton months' absence frr.m Chri-ichurvu. during whicli time he has visited tile United Kingdom, tho Continent, and America, Mr T. S. Tan-kai-d, well-known in physical culture circles, has returned to this city.

In the course of his sojourn abroad Mr Tankard has made a special study ol physical culture methods in the various place- he has visited, and in an interview with a -'Press"' representative imparted some very interesting information relating to the cause which he has so much at heart. In view of the fact that he has been appointed physical culture instructor of the local V.M.C.A., Mr Tankard made exhaustive enquiries into the system prevailing in this connection in the United States, where, it is a generally recognised tact, the movement is more advanced than in any other part of the world. Mr Tankard s'.at-ed that he was simply astounded at the development of the physical training side of tho V.M.C.A. work in America; where it- has literally been brought- to a lino art. In New York City alone over 10,000 men were regular natrons of the gymnasiums, in addition to twice that number of lads, and a very large number of female physical cuiturists. A Chair of Physical Training had been instituted at all the colleges and universities, and many of the- gymnasiums had fully qualified medical men as physical culture directors. Each of these experts gave the whole of his time to the institution with which he was connected, the salaries rangin" from £800 to i'IOOO per year. At Springfield, Massachusetts, which town has approximately the same population as Christchurch.. there is a training college for physical culture directors, under the control of the V.M.C.A. Mr Tankard received an invitation to visit the school, and was very much impressed with the hospitality extended to him. The Faculty would not permit him to stay at any hotel in the city, but gave him the guests room in the school during the whole of his stay. The authorities and the students did everything within their power to make his visit an enjoyable one, and while at the college h<- addressed several of tho elastics, and also spoke to the whole of the students assembled in the chapel. Mr Tankard incidentally mentioned, as denotino- the seriousness with which physical training was treated in Springfield, that the High School in that town paid its pliysical director the sum of £400 a year.

During his stay in the United States -Mr ian lea id made the acquaintance of several physical training directors, and ionnd them ever willing to assist him in his finest for information. Ho attended a conference of directors in -New \ork City, before which be delivered an address on physical culture matters.

•Mr Tankard went on to speak of tho hv S™Y%? C d /* t,y . '' Ui - IC,, " gS ™«*d £1,V1,; ni •A* ln A ™ CTica - In Philadelphia Chicago, and other cities, magnificent buildings had been erected at a cost of a million dollars, and their equipment was on an equally imposing scale, the physical training appliances m some instances running into an expenditure of £4000. The American 1..U._.A. gymnasiums were the largest and most successful physical training and athletic institutions of their kind in the world, nnd, generally, V.M.C.A work m the States was on a far more liberal and broad-minded scale than pertained in New Zealand. They wero patronised by persons in all walks of life, tho business man vicing with the younger idea in his keenness for physical training, and devoting a considerable portion of his valuable time to it. Mr Tankard further mentioned that he had found tho American youth a more receptive pupil than the Knglish or colonial boy, inasmuch as ho had no hesitation in admitting that his instructor knew more about tho ethics of physical culture than himself, and carried out his instructions without demur. Tho classes were attended by rich and poor alike, and a wholehearted enthusiasm characterised the work. Special emphasis was laid by Mr Tankard on the fact that physical training in the States ivas more on gymnastic lines than in New Zealand, and was of a less strenuous description generally. Light physical training was national, and the whole system was worked on strictly physiological lines, without any tendency towards shou'incss and display. Without any desire to appear egotistical, Mr Tankard said that his own methods were in substance quite parallel with those adopted in the largest and Best physical training institutions in America.

Before visiting America, Mr Tankard spent considerable of his time travelling through the United Kingdom and the Continent. In England lie visited most of the important gymnasiums, but regretted to find that practically no advance had been made since he was thero fourteen years ago. France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Italy wero all visited in turn, and most of tho important sights were seen. Mr Tankard stated he had gone to Germany prepared to find the inhabitants of tho Fatherland somewhat pronounced in their dislike of the Britisher, in view of so much having been heard about Anglophobia of recent years, but had been pleasantly surprised to find that kindness and courtesy were practically universal among the officials and the people. Ho was also very much impressed with the municipal management and the cleanliness of the German cities, and he said he had not noticed so much poverty in Germany as had come under his notice in the Home Country. Mr Tankard's favourable impressions of Germany, however, in no way extended to Italy, and he said that although he had paid three visits to the latter country, it seemed extremely doubtful to him whether, seeing the marvellous ruins and sights for which Italy is world-renowned, compensated for the annoyance and inconvenience caused by pestering guides, hotel waiters, and drivers of conveyances. Mr Tankard returned Io New Zealand by way of Vancouver.