PHYSICAL FITNESS

Evening Star, Issue 23123, 24 November 1938, Page 19

PHYSICAL FITNESS

ADDRESS BY HDN. W. E. PARRY CAMPAIGN OUTLINED NATIONAL COUNCIL TO BE FORMED If we treated the boiler of an inanimate engine with the same consideration as we gave to our human boilers, we would get very little work from it, was the very apt comparative illustration made by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E Parry), in an address on the Government’s aim to formulate a National Health and Fitness Council, to a large gathering of representatives of the various sporting bodies last night. The urgent need to stimulate the desire for physical fitness, with its accompanying mental alertness, was stressed by the Minister, who said we had to quicken public opinion for the necessity for fit, clean bodies, and unless this were done, the proposed campaign w'ould never be launched. Ho stressed upon representatives present the earnest desiro of the Government for the whole-hearted and sincere cooperation of all sporting bodies. It was not the intention or the Government to interfere with tho_ liberties or activities of sporting organisations, the Minister said. This was a point ho wanted to drive home. All the Government asked was co-operation. A point made by the Minister was the necessity of providing facilities for health and recreation for the young people. “ All wtf have been doing iu the past has been to scold them,” he said, “ and I for one strongly object to that. For too long we have been scolding them for doing something we think is objectionable. That is shirking the real job we have to face up to.” If the young boys and girls of the community, and the country generally, were being enticed into institutions which were not considered desirable, it was the people’s duty to provide something that was different and better. DISTRICT COMMITTEES. Outlining the Government’s proposals iu the matter, the Minister stated they were going to set up district committees which would function as part of a National Council. Such a committee,_ as iu Dunedin, would be composed or three city councillors with the Mayor as its head, a representative of the Harbour Board, and appointees of the Department. It would bo the task of such committees to make a survey of a city’s recreational facilities and necessities. “ Wo also propose asking the sporting bodies to set up a council to confer with the committee to make the survey,” stated the Minister, “ which would be based on, say, five years.” This survey_ would be referred to the City Council which would review it, and, with its final recommendation, it would be handed on to the National Council. No community i would bo granted financial assistance until the surveys were made. Then the local body would be called upon to assist in playing its part, and also the public. Appeals had been received from numerous sporting bodies for assistance, but he wanted to make it perfectly clear that no assistance would bo given until after the survey was made. There was no bottomless pit into which the Government could dip to shell out cash, the Minister said. » USE OF LEISURE. Dealing with the necessity of making proper use of our leisure hours brought about by the evolution of industry, the Minister stated that if wo adjusted ourselves to the new conditions and made proper use of our leisure, it would mean a very great step in the evolution of the human family, but such leisure could be very dangerous to the human family if not used intelligently. Appealing to all citizens to become enthusiastic on the subject, the Minister stated he had been keen on physical instruction all his life, and what knowledge he had gained he intended to put to practical use. He did not mean simply physical exercise in the ordinary accepted form, but a wider application. He aimed at a community of people, tit and well, healthy in mind and body. He aimed at building centres where properly equipped people would impart knowledge to the human family. Far too little was known by the average person about his own body, the perfect machine. Children should be told something about themselves. They should know something about their internal organs and how to care and look after them—how to develop the body and make it perfect. The appalling lack of knowledge could be seen when any quack came round, be genuine or otherwise. He only advertise and tell the world he could cure all the ills to which flesh was heir and you would not be able to get near his door for days on end. It was not only necessary to develop the body but the mind also, continued the Minister. Ho had seen children going through their exercises at school, and their actions were very lifeless. That was not what was wanted.- They wanted to create that enthusiasm which would get the body and the mind working in co-ordination one with the other. “ There has been a lot of selfishness and "reed in the country. I want to see this replaced with a love of country —an appreciation -of this wonderful country of ours, and an appreciation of the individual. I want to see our men and_ women joining together in the spirit of living reality,” he said. A DEFINITE NEED. There was a definite need for training and for physical fitness, the Minister went on. It could be seen in the great increase in even the most common of illnesses. “The time has arrived for us to have an organisation to prevent disease. This is our objective. It will need money, but we will bo saving it in not having to nurse sick people. It is better to spend money in preventing disease than, in nursing people when they get sick,” he said. It' was his aim, Mr Parry said, to bring down a Bill to give local bodies the power to raise loans to provide recreation facilities without a poll of the ratepayers. It was strange, he said, but it was easier to get a grant of

£50,000 to build a new hospital than to get £5 to prevent people getting sick. RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. No one was too old to take_ part in the proposed National campaign, tho Minister stated. Far too many people “went to seed” years before their time. He was satisfied with proper attention to bodily health they could maintain health and vigour much longer than they did. Not only wonld_ physical fitness and recreational facilities be provided in the cities but also in country districts, where boys and girls from the farms could get something like the same measure of amusement and pleasure ns their counterparts in the towns. There would bo a big display in all tho centres in February next, the Minister said, and the sporting bodies would be asked to assist. “If we think at all for five minutes consecutively we must realise we have got to move in the way I have suggested to-day,” the Minister stated finally. “ With leisure at hand it is either a very useful or a very dangerous thing.” The mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), who presided, assured tho Minister he could reckon on the whole-hearted co-opera-tion of the city in carrying out the proposals he had outlined that evening, Moving a hearty vote of thanks to iho Minister for his address. Mr 11. R. Irwin said tho support of all sporting bodies was assured. Mr F. G. Duncan seconded the motion, which was carried amidst applause.