HEALTH OF THE NATION

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22072, 21 April 1937, Page 14

HEALTH OF THE NATION

♦; Conference on Physical Education MINISTERS DISCUSS NEED FOR INSTRUCTION (PRESS ASSOCIATION TKLEGRAIt.) WELLINGTON, April 20. The physical culture conference opened to-day. attended by the ActingPrime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) and the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry). Associated with them were the Director of Education (Mr N, T. Lambourne), the Director-General of Health (Dr. M. H. Watt), and the Chief Inspector of Primary Schools (Dr. J. W. Mcllraith). The aim is to consider the best means of raising the standard of physical fitness in the community. In addition to a report to be considered, several remits have been sent in by delegates. Mr Fraser described the conference as very important, and thanked those present for accepting the invitation to attend. The view taken by the Government was that children should have the best and fullest kind of physical education and development, but that avenues should be provided for them to enable them to continue with the care of their bodies. The work of the conference would be to consider what was desirable and what was practicable, and how the system could be improved, not only in the-schools, but right through the lines of the people. Use of Leisure Leisure was like most other things in life —it could be an immensely beneficial thing if properly used, and could also be a tragically disastrous thing if not properly used. He suggested that the conference should survey the whole situation and give the Government the benefit of its knowledge and experience. Mr Fraser said that a great deal had been done in New Zealand —more than in any other country in the world up to the present—in the care of infant life. The Plunket Society of New Zealand led the world in that respect. Unfortunately, some of the good done in the early days of infancy had been undone in later years, mainly because of lack of knowledge of those in charge of the children, such as ignorance about food and the importance of sunshine and exercise for children, as well as a hundred and one other causes, which would disappear with the growth of knowledge and the intelligent use of that knowledge. What the Government was anxious to get was general agreement on the method of approach to the subject and a frank examination of what had been done in primary and secondary schools to date, and the deficiencies which were only too obvious, together with suggestions and recommendations about the institution of a system of physical education, right through from the kindergarten stage to adult life. There was nothing to prevent the conference making recommendations about physical education right through the life of the adult. Fie suggested that they should survey the whole situation and give the Government the benefit of their knowledge and their wide experience. Biological Instruction The importance of physical education as a means of laying a good foundation was emphasised by Mr Parry. He said he thought it was important that the instruction should embrace a good knowledge of the make-up of the human being. That was lacking today, not only among the children but among the adults in this country. Knowledge was also required of the right kind of food to consume. Food consisted not only of that which was put into one's stomach; there was another food —the fellowship, the psychological effect of proper associations. It, was very necessary to. create a good healthy psychology. Mr Parry said he had held very strong opinions all his life about physical education. With a proper system of physical education, he thought there was scarcely a human weakness that could not be overcome. He knew some medical men would disagree with him, but he had tested it personally. In his opinion, boys and girls should be instructed about their own inner organs, so that they acquired a knowledge of their own make-up and physical construction. Although he was very enthusiastic about the need for physical fitness and believed it was the real foundation of the race, he realised it was necessary to have mental fitness as well. He contended, however, that the two could be developed side by side. Dr. Watt said he had access to reports from school medical officers, and these and information from many other sources disclosed the existence of a tremendous amount of preventable disease in the community. At the same time, he did not wish it to be thought that the health of the community was deteriorating steadily. It was his belief that the standard of health of the people to-day was better than it had ever been, but there was room for a vast improvement. ■ 1 ~