FREEDOM OF SPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 67, 20 March 1937, Page 15

FREEDOM OF SPORT

FOOTBALL IN SCHOOLS

MINISTER'S STATEMENT|Jj

SUPPORTED

:'• "We should concede' voiiintarily the right'to a]! people to participate in and enjoy/whatever sport or recreation they may select.", This statement, made by the Minister: of.', Internal \ Affairs;■ (the Hon. W ; E.: Parry); recently, was referred to; with; approval at the annual meeting of the* New; Zealand Football Association last night^'wHeni the attitude of certain "school teachers •: towards: Association'K football was under; discussion. Itjwas indicated that the council, of the . association was actively engaged on the/problem.:;/ • .Describing.the question.as a "hardy; annual,'.', Mr. HVli.GbdberPreferred to the hostility shown to the, code by some teachers in the: secondary7schools.,'He referred to the. Minister's; recent ;i remark about;, unselfishness1 in -sporV-arid suggested; that : the v incoming 'council should approach ; the "Government-to see whether the stift-hecked people who were, keepirig'the game out of secondT ary schools could be. told-.eic'actly'what they :6ught|to, do.; 7 Thejcolleges;were public institutions^ and' every.: class in the community had in them an interest that ought to be>considered./i; i;]:'^::':> . Mr. Frank Campbell said that he was at the conference called bj>\' Mr.-'Parry on the natiorialisatipnVof sport and; he quoted, the Minister's r .femark; .calling^ for. liberty of .choice in' sport. \:: v ;:,• "That is .'all we have asked for,"! said Mp Campbell. ;| ';"We;believe^thaty: in this, country there v are- many .boys who wish; to,play.; Association don't, want, to- harm ; any other tspor't; but' we do : ask ihat. an; the ; ■ schools facilities be given for all the 'pupils 9 to play the! sport they want. >■ vWe-know, Rugby, is the national game and it will remain so for many, many; years, but there is >room/;for .'Assojciation: football; and ; l/thinkV the .sympathetic remarks of the' Minister will help ; us -tO: achieve that object so that :in the secondary schools the masters-will, be. at; least .fair."'..' ;';'-;;' S'--., •>-.■■■'•' ■.---.-'■-:. v- - ''fx'i.i'' .v;r>;'v'i