COUNCIL OF SPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 150, 26 June 1937, Page 21

COUNCIL OF SPORT

DEFINITE PROPOSALS

KEEPING THE NATION FiT

REPORT TO MINISTER

A comprehensive report embodying a suggested constitution for the Coun-1 cil of Sport advocated by the Minis-1 ter of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E.I Parry) has been prepared as a result of a- conference held in Christchurch recently between representatives of! the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, the; New Zealand Council of the Royal Life-saving Society, and the New Zealand Surf Life-saving Association. The report has been prepared for the Minister, and has been j forwarded to him. Extracts from it are as follows:— "The conference favours the formation' of the National Council of Sport, the objective of which shall be the improvement of the physical standard of the people; "The Council of Sport shall be constituted of: The' Minister of Internal Affairs, who shall be chairman; three representatives of the Government, one representing each of the following departments, Department of Internal Affairs, Health Department, and Education Department; one representative of the medical profession, who :;hall be a member of the Executive Council of Sport, and one representative of each of the following national amateur organisations, and of such other organisations as shall attain national status: The Rugby Union, the Rugby League, the Football Association, the Basketball" Association, the Cricket Association, the Hockey . Association, the Golf Association, .. the Croquet Association, the Tennis , Association, the Bowling Association", the Badminton Association, the Table Tennis Association, the Squash . Racquets Association, the Swimming Association, the Royal Lifesaving Society, the New Zealand Surf Association, the Yachting Association, the Rowing Association, the Amateur Athletic Association, the Amateur Cycling Association, the Alpine Sports Association, the New Zealand Rifle Association, the New Zealand Miniature Rifle Association, the New Zealand Gun Clubs' Association, the Amateur Wrestling Association, the Amateur Boxing Association, the Fencing Association, and the Weight-lifting Association. "An executive committee shall be formed and shall consist of the four Government representatives, the medical profession representative, and seven' members who shall be elected by the representatives of the various sports organisations constituting the council. "The council shall meet half-yearly and at such other times as the Minister may deem advisable. At its first half-yearly meeting and at the first meeting in each and every subsequent year the council s>iall elect the executive committee. The executive committee shall meet monthly or as otherwise directed by the council and shall function as the council directs. POLICY. "The policy of the council shall be as follows: — ' "(a.) To co-ordinate the interests of all sporting bodies in the development of a policy which will, be in accord with the objective. "(b.) To educate all school children as to the advantage of, and to encourage them in the active participation in, sport, and; to.' continue that activity after leaving school. • "(c.) To make provision for the participation of the people in all forms of physical development. "Cd.) To stimulate .lational interest by propaganda through the medium of radio, the Press, lectures, displays, etc., etc. "(e.) To ensure, in all localities, the | provision of adequate facilities for participation in all recognised branches of sport. _.: "(f.) To encourage and assist in every way possible the active individual . participation in all recognised branches 'of sport . "(g.) The establishment of a national sporting fund 'to be created and sustained by grants from the State, municipalities,, local bodies, and contributions from other sources. "(h.) To foster and develop a spirit of true sportsmanship and the enjoyment and benefit of physical fitness. ' . "(i.) The policy of the National : Council of Sport shall be administered ; only through the national organisations ' of its component bodies." A BROADER OUTLOOK. ; The conference- added the following ' supplementary remarks to the recom- ! mendations made and dealing with the ] functions of the council:—; : "(a.) The council would, by having . regular meetings of representatives of \ all sports, tend to eliminate the present overlapping in the control of kin- ] dred sport. It would also enable the administration of one particular sport < to understand and appreciate the particular difficulties'of other sports and so ' engender, a broader.outlook. : , "(b.) This is deemed to be a vital ; function of the Council of Sport. The < educational value of any branch of i sport should- be fully explained by ! qualified instructors to the child whose : natural inclination, should be encour- : aged to the full. There should be no : compulsion,- but every child should ' be free to choose what branch of sport l is desired and that desire developed to ' its fullest extent. The value of con- ■ tinuing after leaving school the sport < chosen should be emphasised, and it is - recommended that the educational | authorities institute a system whereby i contact may be maintained by the ] child with its chosen sport after leav- : ing school. ■ . I,' "(c) Provision should be made for ] all people, particularly "after leaving school, to express the particular sport in which they are interested, so that they may be brought to the attention of the proper bodies. M this direction co-operation between educational and medical .representatives could bo I used to advantage. Those members of i the community who have ability to c participate, in some particular sport c should be encouraged to devote them- ' selves to that sport. ' "(d) This explains itself and should *■ form a large part of the work of the council. ( "(e) This also speaks for itself. But particular attention should be paid to prpvidirig baths and playing fields and making available local beaches, as thsse i provide the ideal conditions for improving physical fitness and muscular development at a comparatively lowcost. The formation of life-saving clubs, swimming clubs, and athletic clubs should be encouraged in every 'way possible and definite provision made for at least periodical visits by qualified instructors and trainers. The existing clubs should be requested to greatly enlarge their memberships and a subsidy should be paid to those clubs which depend on subscriptions to keep going so that they could accept for membership new members at a re- tl duced fee. r' INDOOR STADIUMS. "In view of the inclement weather p experienced at a great many outdoor i.l meetings .in New Zealand the building '< of an indoor stadium should bo con- aJ sider'ed at least for the main centres. As regards "Wellington it might be pos- g

sible to have one of the coming exhibition buildings in Wellington earmarked for this purpose. "(f) This -we consider to be one of the most important functions of a National Council of Sport and is closely allied to (b). ■To ensure every individual retaining interest in, or taking up any branch of, sport seems to the conference a vital point, and although ways and means will no doubt'be suggested: we believe that in a lot of cases lack of finance both by the individual and by clubs prevents a good many persons following the sport to- which they have a natural inclination. This can be overcome by subsidising clubs j to enable them to accept as members | if they so desire any persons nominated by the educational authorities or medical advisers. Adequate coaching and instruction readily available would do much to induce young ■ people to participate in.sport instead of watching it. The educational work at schools would be a great factor in interesting children in active participation in sport, and if, with only a nominal outlay to the parent, a teacher could send a child along to a club controlling the particular sport in which he or she is interested that child would, in practically every case, become enthusiastic in the sport. "(g) On consideration it seems that the main factor in successfully inaugurating the scheme is the provision of adequate finance. Whilst it is appreciated that the Government will assist as much as possible, it is extremely doubtful whether, if the Government paid all costs, this would result, in sufficient keenness and enthusiasm to carry the scheme to a successful conclusion. Sport to a* great extent should be self-supporting, and it is in this manner that some of our. most successful clubs have been built up. The real difficulty lies in enabling those to participate who are not financially able to do so. "(h) This speaks for itself. This object can best be accomplished by having more active participation by a well-directed educational campaign. "(i) It is considered that the Council of Sport should meet in Wellington, and be a co-ordinating body for the whole of New Zealand. It should deal only with national organisations. Each national organisation should keep its district associations fully informed'of all developments. District associations can deal with the Council of Spbrt only through their national organisations."