Govt Assistance For Sport Advocated

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32117, 13 October 1969, Page 19

Govt Assistance For Sport Advocated

A firm belief that Government and other assistance towards the development of all amateur sport in this country will become necessary is expressed in the annual report of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association.

The assistance would not necessarily have to be final)’ cial, but the provision of facilities, opportunities for research, administrative assistance, and remission of sales tax were some of the avenues which could be explored, it said. The report, which was over the names of Mr A. J. Donaldson, chairman of the association’s council, and Mr A. W. Barrett, the general secretary, said the deliberations and recommendations of the recent National Development Conference had been followed with interest. “New Zealand seems to be greatly concerned with the expansion of the national product —harder work, increased production. etc.—without paying any great attention to the future recreational heeds of the people/* said the report. “NEGLECTED’’ “Cultural activity seems to be generously covered and represented, but sporting activity and the provision of adequate facilities seem to have been somewhat neglected. “We are told that New Zealanders are a sports-loving people. If the people are to be asked to work harder and produce more for the country, it is surely not unreasonable to expect that those same people should enjoy part of the accruing benefit to the country. “We suggest that a far ? Tester percentage of the popuation have sports and recreational interests than the number interested in cultural activities. Increased population was envisaged by the National Development Conference, and the recreational. as well as the cultural needs to cater for this increased population must be provided.”

The report said it was not suggesting the establishment of a ministry of sport in New Zealand, but it advocated an immediate start on comprehensive planning.