NATIONAL SPORT CAMPAIGN

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22657, 11 March 1939, Page 16

NATIONAL SPORT CAMPAIGN

LACK OF CONCRETE

SCHEMES

AGTIWIE& (Mg’ GOENGIL, (l

RUGBY UNION'S- ADMINISTRA-

TION DEFENDED

"We have had, no explicit requests I from, the National. Council of Physical Welfare- and Recreation and,, conse- ■ quently any allegation that we are not i doing; what is- required, of us- can be . rebutted, easily,” said, Mr J. K. Moloney,. • president of the Canterbury Rugby , Union, in an interview with "The-; Press,” in which he disagreed with recent remarks of Mr F; G. Dunn, a member of the National Council; that ; Rugby was “slipping-,” both in the ad- • 'ministration and 1 its popularity as aisport. No ooherete proposals had been ; made to the union, he- said, by the council; and the expressed ideals o£--the Minister-for Internal Affairs were - too- nebulous Mr Moloney mdicavdhit opposition, to ary suggestion or i.v terference by the council or its members with administration of sports. - ’ "The objects and desires of the Min- , ister are not indicated on strong lines , and that has been criticised m certain , [quarters,” said Mr Moloney., The | [schemes appear to be rat ,he r vague. lAs planned by the Minister the ■National Council is part of a- scheme ' which cannot reach fruition m a moment: it has- to- be a planned effort over the years, endeavouring to enlist th support of ail institutions, organis!ati6ns, and peoples- so that the health, ■'and outlook of the race may be improved.” The application of the scheme to Rugby was discussed by Mr Moloney. -The union was a very large organisation doing an immense work in me. [interests of the youth of the- country, .more than 3000, players being fielded, in Canterbury alone. The public gen-leral-ly-did not appreciate the detailed 'organisation required to fee that the teams took the field' and that grounds | were .arranged- andi equipped for the imahy matches played weekly. I Rugby’s Soundness I So far, no concrete proposals had 'been received by the - Rugby Union from, the National Council. Instead, : the council was looking to the sportling bodies to give- it, a lead-.. Although ■ the Council had, given, an. assurance, ithafl ;it ..would n,ot interfere with the. ‘administration pf any .sport. Mr Dunp. i had strongly attempted to make anoint I that Rugby had lost prestige and that it was losing ground in, the. schools ' “The heart of Rugby. I definitely say, is as sound as ever. Although, we were defeated by the Springboks from, the point of view’ of winning and losing, one probable beneficial effect is that' the defeat will make the people realise that New- Zealanders cannot expect to. be- always on the winning side. I believe, that Rugby is having; somewhat of a lean time; but we shall regain our position in the next few ■ seasons. Anyone, who. is a judge of football will agree that the Springboks were a ’side of unusual merit,, and that New Zealand' was lacking in the ! hard; rugged type of forward necessary to combat such a strong combination.” I Interference in Schools I' Ifavihg complete control, the head- ; 'masters could not be expected to allow’ any outside , interference in. the running off sport in. the primary schools. !Throughout the- years, the Canterbury [Rugby Union had received the greatest support from headmasters and it 1 was not too much, to say that the paramount, position, of Rugby to-day was , lattributable, to the sport having such, ■a fine nursery as the, schools. 1 "Mr Dunn alleged that other games iwere creeping, into the schools. The ; .answer to that, is that Rugby should ’'stand,on its own feet find that other ‘ games must be given the opportunity ,to attract-the-youth- off the. country l - It 'is fine when every boy at-a school is. ’ indulging in some sport and Rugby 'cannot, and does not, expect a moni lopoly.” Physical Education Needed - The establishment of a chair of phyisical education at the university,,- bring- ■ |i-n,g into, being a number of , specialists igying practical courses in the schools, was advocated by Mr Moloney aa the .best scheme for the improvement off the physique and outlook * off the nation. 'These courses, already popular in the United States,’ embraced such subjects aa track and' field athletics, football, gymnastics, tennis, swinnming. with physical exercises to irnplem ent the> sports. The object of the mass education. and development-of the individual in the sport lor which he -showed aptitude would be the production of a healthy race. If the system were amplified in the secondary schools and the university, New Zealand would develop a national outlook in sport, as well as doing a great service to its youth.

The whole-hearted manner in which members of the Rugby Union Executive and club committees carried out their duties suggested that there was ■little wrong- with the administration. Supporting the ideal that every person Should play a game, the union would b e pleased to provide healthy recreation for all wanting the opportunity. However, it had received no suggestions from the National Council.