LEISURE UNDER 40-HOUR WEEK

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24882, 23 May 1946, Page 4

LEISURE UNDER 40-HOUR WEEK

COUNCIL OF SPORT DISCUSSION

SURVEY OF FACILITIES TO BE MADE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 22. The principal business at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Council of Sport in Wellington to-day was a decision to make a survey with a view to linking the greater leisure time provided by. the 40-hour week with increased participation in sport and recreation. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Mr J. Meltzer, acting-chaiman, said the large number of men rejected for military service showed that the general standard of physical fitness dia not disclose a position of which New Zealand could be proud. The National Recreational Association of England was the counterpart of the New Zealand Council of Sport. It included such bodies as the British Olympic Association, the Amateur Athletic Association, the Football Association, the Rugby Football League, and the Rugby Football Union. This surely was a complete answer to some of the criticism which had been levelled at the Council of Sport. Mr W. A. Jenkins (Otago), in seconding the motion, said that up to the present councils of sport throughout the Dominion had had to carry on with funds provided by private individuals. They would like to know how the grant which had been made by the rovernment was to be administered.

Mr Meltzer said the Minister in charge of the Physical Welfare and Recreation Department had advised that each application for a grant would be treated entirely on its merits, and whether or not a grant was made would depend on the nature of the case made. As it was intended to maintain the principle of self help, any grant would be in the form of a subsidy, generally not exceeding £1 for £2 on what the organisation raised. Mr Meltzer said the Government would make grants to sporting bodies which were making material contributions to recreational facilities. The executive of the New Zealand Council of Sport would be glad to receive from provincial councils the fullest information regarding their requirements in .order that the executive could take the matter up with the Government. Miss D. Brown (Canterbury) said the girl basketball players of Canterbury had for some time been paying Id every week. By this means they had raised £6OO. This body had recently received a grant of £250, which they richly deserved, but this had been made through the physical welfare officer. The Council of Sport had not been consulted in the matter. Difficulties in Country Mr D. T. Woodfield (Wellington) moved that a survey be made with a view to linking the greater leisure time allowed by the 40-hour week with increased participation in sport ,and recreation. Before this could be done facilities would have to be provided. Mr J. C. Kirkland (Southland) said it would be an easy matter to make a survey in city areas, but making a survey of country areas would be a task beyond the provincial councils of sport. He moved as an amendment that a complete survey of facilities in country areas be deferred for a Sear. The amendment was lost and le motion carried. Mr S. A. Cleal (Auckland) moved: “That the conference requests that, in connexion with any possible grants undet seciton II of the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act, all applications from bodies whose functions come within the scope of councils of sport be made through the provincial councils of sport concerned; that the report of the provincial councils be attached to the application for submission to the Internal Affairs Department.” The motion was carried. It was decided to recommend to the Government that community centres be adopted as living war memorials, and to ask the Government to encourage such projects. The management committee was asked to endeavour to get the Government to make a definite statement on what subsidy it was prepared to give towards the erection of community centres whether erected as war memorials or not. It was decided to make further endeavour to raise the status of physical education by the establishment of a university course and degree in physical education. It was also decided to request the -Government to remove the amusement tax on all recreational functions and cultural functions conducted on a non-profit basis. The election of officers resulted:— patron, Dr. H. Pettit (Auckland); president, Mr A. C. Kitto (Wellington), re-elected; vice-presidents, Mrs H. D.

Muir and Mr J. C. Kirkland (Southland); executive, Messrs J. Meltzer, W. A. Baker, W. J. Griffin, H. N. Ballinger J. H. Phillipps, D. T Woodfield, Miss M Armstrong, Miss M. Wilkins; secretary-treasurer, Mr K. A. Falconer (re-elected); hon. auditor, Mr A. G. Little (re-elected); hon. solicitor, Mr W, R. Birks (re-elected).