RURAL ATTRACTIONS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 105, 27 January 1940, Page 8

RURAL ATTRACTIONS

Minister Urges Support

The view was expressed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry, yesterday, that the people of country towns should hold on to their district shows, sports meetings, and picnic race meetings, with all the mental, muscular and financial power at command. There was a tendency noticeable in some parts of New Zealand that the annual gatherings were too much of a strain on the energy and resources of the people and, consequently, interest in them was being relinquished in favour of the large centres. That attitude, the Minister said, got the people nowhere and, In addition, robbed them of a camaraderie and pleasure which could not be obtained outside their own particular district. He had invitations to attend—and hoped he could do so—two country sports meetings in which there were athletic contests and pony races, the boys and girls and the horses and their riders having been trained in their own districts.

“The founders of these meetings,” Mr. Parry added, “deserve great credit and support for their work. They are creating not only pleasure and enjoyment in their midst, but an atmosphere which provides a healthy and satisfying tonic to their fellow townsmen and women which is valuable in the days of conflict among nations.”