A FIT NATION

Evening Star, Issue 22627, 20 April 1937, Page 12

A FIT NATION

PHYSICAL CULTURE CONFERENCE OPENS CARE OF BODY THROUGH LIFE AIMED AT [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 20. The Physical Culture Conference opened to-day. It was attended by the Acting Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, and the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, associated with whom were the Director of Education (Mr Lambourne), the Director - General of Health (Dr Watt), and the chief inspector of primary schools (Dr MTI- - The aim is to consider the best means of raising the standard of physical fitness in the community, and in addition to the report to be considered, a number of remits have been sent in by delegates. Mr Fraser described the conference as a very important one, and thanked those present for accepting the invitation to attend. The view taken by the Government was that children should have the best and fullest kind of physical education and development, but that there should he avenues provided for them to enable them to continue with the care of their bodies. The work of the conference would be to consider what was desirable and practicable; how the system could be improved, not only in the schools, but right through the lives of the people. Leisure was like most other things in life: It could be an immensely beneficial thing if properly utilised, and could be a tragically disastrous thing if not properly utilised. Ho suggested that the conference should survey the whole situation and give the Government the benefit of the delegates, knowledge and wide experience.