Variation in leisure use

Press, 10 November 1981, Page 23

Variation in leisure use

The use people make of their leisure time and the recreational facilities available differ with power and occupational groups in the community and recreational patterns even show sexist divisions. These are amongst the conclusions of the Australian sociologist, Elizabeth Darlison, who talked about recreation in two Radio New Zealand interviews with Jack Shallcrass. Concert, 9.22 tonight. She believes that people should make more extensive and logical use of glide time to provide themselves with time for recreational interests in extended lunch hours. Why should tennis courts be jammed on a Saturday and deserted midweek? And why should not the glide-time worker be able to control his access to recreational facilities in the same way that the self-, employed such as dentists and doctors can now. Many large firms already have recreational facilities for executives — and the Beehive has a swimming pool for Parliamentarians. In Japan, there are quite sophisticated facilities provided frequently for staff. The availability of existing facilities to a wider public was also discussed, for instance schools that, close their doors with the Friday bell or sports clubs that limit their membership and interest to the “winners” rather than fulfilling a community need.