NATIONAL SPORTS CONTROL

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22108, 2 June 1937, Page 3

NATIONAL SPORTS CONTROL

+ CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN CITY PROPOSALS FOR SUBMISSION TO MINISTER National control of sport, with suggestions for the form it may take, wilf be considered at a conference of sports bodies in the city shortly. The conference will be called by Mr Rex Hobbs at the request of the New Zealand Olympic and Empire Games Association, of which he is a vice-presi-dent. The Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, has suggested the formation of a National Council of Sport to promote physical fitness among New Zealanders, and to coordinate the activities of sports bodies. In March last, at Parliament House, he met and addressed representatives of national organisations. At that conference it was decided that the suggestions of sportsmen for the rational organisation should be obtained and placed before the Minister at a further conference in Wellington on or after June 30. Mr Hobbs has since received a request from the Olympic Association that he should call representatives together in Christchurch to discuss proposals. The association feels thatsmce it is representative of nine of Ihe largest national sports bodies it rouid well be the nucleus of the National Council of Sport. The sports it represents are athletics, bowls, boxing, cycling, rowing, Rugby Union football, Association football, swimming, and wrestling. It is suggested by the Olympic Issociation that a sufficient organisation could be found for a national scheme by the extension of its own constitution, to allow the establishment of branches in each main centre and sub-branches elsewhere. Having these branches, provision could be made for direct representation at the annual meeting of the association. "There is no reason why we should not be ambitious and advocate a policy that will meet the wishes of all amateur sports bodies in New 2ealand," the secretary of the Olympic Association, Mr H. Amos, has said. "We ought to be able to take a rational view and co-ordinate our sport and recreation with the physical welfare of the community."