CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 147, 19 December 1944, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE

REGIMENTATION OF SPORT Sir, —New Zealanders, in the mass, will agree heartily with the statement of Mr. F. Martyn Renner, principal of Rongotai College, that "The English public school system of regimentation of sport, the practice of forcing every boy to play the recognised school game or games is wrong." His emphatic preference of the voluntary principle is m line with the policy of the British National Fitness Council, which was set up before the war. That principle is also recognised in New Zealand's Physical Welfare and Recreation Act. In a statement presented recently to Parliament, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. W. E.; Parry, remarked:, "There will be' no j compulsory games; neither will our! recreation and recuperative activities! be regulated by blue prints. On the contrary, it is intended to encourage the greatest measure of freedom In the development of a good clean healthy outlook among our people; to encourage them to have full enjoyment of their own chosen recreations rather than to be subject in any way to disciplinary action; not to play because they are compelled to do so, but to develop a spirit for the enjoyment of social contacts." One hopes that some of the lads who do not feel interested in set games will be encouraged to go on suitable tramping trips occasionally under helpful guvtance, especially if the guides incluue geologists and botanistsj who could give the young folk a new vision of landscapes. Prooabiy there I are scientists who would volunteer) gladly for this service.—l am, etc., COMMON-SENS 1