CARRY ON!

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 29, 4 February 1941, Page 8

CARRY ON!

NATIONAL FITNESS

NO BREAK ATHLETICALLY

GREAT WORK IN BEING

The "carry on" command to the people of New Zealand in pursuing the course set for the nation's good re-echoed strongly when the Undersecretary for Internal Affairs, Mr. J. W. Heenan., C.8.E., was addressing a meeting of athletic delegates last night in his capacity as the newly-elected president of the Wellington Centre N.Z.A.A.A.

. Without going into the probabilities, there were all sorts of possibilities ahead for the people in this time of war that were not present last time, he said. 'With the whole of the nation having to be physically fit, athletic clubs and all other sports bodies were perform--ing a national service in going on with their activities. Since compulsory national service was in full being, he said, there was no question of dodging, and the more the athletes carried on the fitter they would be as the time came for their going into camp or playing whatever other part was theirs in the national war effort.

The question of being fitted for service, in whatever direction it was undertaken, was much wider than in covering those who went forward to the Navy, the Army, and the Air Force. There were, said Mr. Heenan, the Home Guard and the Emergency Precautions Schemes, which in themselves demanded a fit nation. Of this there had been definite recognition by the Government in the recent adoption of the scheme propounded by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry). TRAINING INSTRUCTORS. One result had been the appointment to the Physical Welfare and Recreation Branch of the Department of Internal [Affairs of a number of skilled- area instructors whose duty it would be to, train selected instructors in the Home Guard ranks. Above and apart from anything connected with the immediate necessities of the war, the carrying on of athletics and other sports, said Mr. Heenan, would be a great work for the health and physique of the nation in the post-war period.

Expressing appreciation of the honour of president conferred upon him, Mr. Heenan said he was pleased that the centre had decided to carry on throughout the war period. It was a matter of considerable satisfaction to him to know that there would be no clean break as there was last time.

Really the only thing that saved athletics from the last war, he said, was the fact that competition had been kept up by the Army members abroad. They brought back a prestige to New Zealand athletics that immediately gave the sport a start again, particularly in public estimation. Even before the crack athletes returned, the meetings were attracting good attendances, and then, when H. E. Wilson and the others came back, the sport received a big lift.

It was ever so much more important, he considered, that they carry on during this war and so obviate the break. Those who were too young to go to this war would not lose the value of coaching and experience in the process of their development athletically and in that there were advantages that he could not stress too strongiy.