COUNCIL OF SPORT

Evening Star, Issue 22686, 28 June 1937, Page 14

COUNCIL OF SPORT

A CONSTITUTION DRAFTED [Pek United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Juno 26. A comprehensive report embodying a suggested constitution for the proposed Council of Sport has been prepared as the "result of a conference field in Christchurch recently between representatives of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, the New Zealand Council of tho Life Saving Society and the New Zealand Surf Life Saving Association. The report has been forwarded to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry. The proposed council would consist of the Minister of Internal _ Affairs as chairman; three representatives of the Government, one representing the Department of Internal Affairs, one of the Health Department, and a third the Education Department; a representative of the medical profession, who would be a member of the Executive Council of Sport; and one representative of each of the following national amateur organisations and such others as shall attain national status: —The Rugby Union, the Rugbv League, the Football Association, the Basketball Association, the Cricket Association, the Hockey Association. the Golf Association, the Croquet Association, the Lawn Tennis Association, the Bowling Association, the Table Tennis Association, the Badminton Association, the Squash Rackets Association, the Swimming Association, the Royal Life Saving Society of New Zealand, tho Surf 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. The executive will consist of the four Government representatives, the representative of the medical profession, and seven members elected by the representatives of the _ various sports organisations' constituting the council. It would meet half-yearly or at such cither times as the Minister might deem advisable. The executive would be elected annually and would meet monthly or as the council should direct. The policy that it is suggested should! be followed is set out in detail. POLICY POINTS bringing every active citizen in CHRISTCHURCH, June 26. The proposed policy of tlm council is set out in the report as fallows: — To co-ordinate the interests of all sporting bodies in the development _ Oif a policy which will be in accord with the objective. To educate all school children as to tho advantage of, and to encourage them in the active participation in, sport and to continue that activity after leaving school. . . To make provision for ' the > participation of the people in all forms of physical development. To stimulate national interest by propaganda through the medium of radio, the Press, lectures, displays, etc.

To ensure in all localities the provision of adequate facilities for participation in all recognised branches of sport. To encourage and assist in every way possible the active individual participation in all recognised branches of sport. 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. To foster and develop a spirit of true sportsmanship and the enjoyment and benefit of physical fitness. The policy of the National Council of Sport shall be only through the national organisations of its component bodies. Summarising the advantages of such a council, the report points out that regular meetings of representatives of all sports would tend to eliminate the present overlapping in and 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. ■ Every child should be free to choose what branch of sport was desired, and provision should be made for all people, particularly after leaving school, -to express the particular sport in which they were interested. In view of the Inclement weather experienced at a great many outdoor meetings in New Zealand, the building of an indoor stadium for each of the main" centres, at least, Is proposed. The portion of the report dealing with the financial aspect emphasises the importance of adequate finance for inaugurating the scheme, but emphasis is also laid on tbe fact that sport should be self-supporting to a great extent; tbe real difficulty lay in enabling tho.se to participate who were not financially able to do so.