YOUTH TRAINING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 91, 19 April 1939, Page 10

YOUTH TRAINING

MORE FACILITIES

MINISTER GRATIFIED

VALUE TO NATION

A noticeable increase in the number of societies, clubs, and institutes for the spiritual, educational, and physical training of the youth of New Zealand was commented on by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry), in replying to a sports body deputation

< Grants were sought by the deputation to enable sports bodies to provide full equipment for instruction in gymnastic and other bodily training. It was stated that there was a growing manifestation of the need for higher training among the young people, notably those connected with swimming, football, and athletic clubs, and it was desirable that that interest, which was all for the good of the Dominion's manhood and womanhood, should be encouraged in all ways practicable. It was better to keep in the gymnasium the young fellow with the spirit and keenness to improve his physique than to let him walk the streets at night, letting his muscles become flaccid.

Mr. Parry said the deputation's way of sizing up the situation and all that mattered in the attainment of physical fitness of the people was commendable, whichever aspect was considered. "It is to get the young man, or the young woman," the Minister remarked, "to realise what it means to him or her to have a fine physique. That is the foundation of the movement we have now well under way. Keenness to develop, bodily and mentally, is an admirable quality, and wherever that keenness is manifested it should be cultivated. If some of the young people of excellent material for development, who, as was stated, obtain their exercise by strolling along the city streets, were to feast their eyes on the physique of the young men and women after efficient physical trains ing, they would make haste to take up courses." SOUND CHARACTER. The Minister went on to say that all who were assisting to provide happy inducement towards bringing the youth of the Dominion voluntarily together in movements which aimed at moulding a sound character and physical fitness were doing a work of great value to the young people and the country. Since operations had begun to bring into effect the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act, many movements in New Zealand for the training in various ways, educationally and physically, of boys and girls, young men and young women, had been brought to official notice. Several of the schools, societies, training colleges, and institutes engaged in the work were conducted privately by the founders, while others had paid, or voluntary, instructors.

"The number of these bodies seems to be growing," Mr. Parry said, "as there are still coming to hand printed and typewritten outlines of the class of work undertaken by these different bodies. Some of the instructors appear to have excellent plans for getting the youth of the Dominion together for training, and the promoters say they could do better linked up with and monetarily recognised by the Physical Welfare and Recreation Department. I have invitations to visit the classes of a number of these institutions, and I have hope of being able to do so. There is room for all coordinated effort on right lines. It will help the young people to reali^ that the attainment of full development, physically and mentally, would be a powerful advantage to them in their lives. When that progress is made in the work, something for the lasting, good of the nation will have been achieved."