Recreation Lacks Plan

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31058, 13 May 1966, Page 9

Recreation Lacks Plan

<N.Z. Press Association) HAMILTON, May 11.

The Government’s entire approach to recreation was piecemeal and lacked constructive thinking and planning the senior adviser in physical education at Wellington, Mr L. Bayly, said today.

He told the refresher course of the Physical Education Society, that the carry-over from school to community recreation was completely undirected. “This problem is now so great that the time seems opportune to create a new

department. This could take the form of a combined unit from Internal Affairs, Health and Education, or a department of recreation and culture with complete autonomy,” he said.

“Leisure is becoming more and more available in Ngw Zealand’s present-day society. But the more leisure we have, the more important becomes our way of using it. “We are not prepared—educated might be the correct word—to make use of this leisure time.

“In the future, boredom may well be a more serious disease for many of us than cancer or heart ailments.” A further social problem was created by earlier marriages. This resulted in earlier rearing of families and young mothers with plenty of leisure time. The majority still did not know how to use it.

He described school-leavers as the largest single group being “thrust on the community annually as a recreational problem.”

Interests fostered at school should be capitalised, but the carry-over in physical recreation was ait present limited by lack of facilities and opportunities: often restricted to those showing a high degree of skill in a chosen sport. “Opportunities for arts, crafts, drama and group social activities are even more limited,” said Mr Bayly. Recreational guidance in schools has so far proved unsuccessful. Ways to make it work must be found. The educational programme is not geared to education for leisure. School planning must permit a broader use of school facilities for community recreation.”