GROUP TRAVEL

Evening Star, Issue 24055, 29 November 1941, Page 7

GROUP TRAVEL

IDEAL PRINCIPLES

VISIT OF HON. W. E. PARRY

Members of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Group Travel Association met the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) yesterday afternoon. He congratulated the association on the progress it had made since its formation. Its motto of “ goodwill, tolerance, and understanding ” represented all that was ideal among free-loving people. The Minister spoke of the need for a better understanding among peoples of tho world, for disputes and wars arose because of a lack of it, he said. Speaking of the physical welfare movement which his department controlled, the Minister stressed the necessity of guarding the health of the mothers of the nation. This, he said, should be a first charge on the national income, for it was better to spend money on building healthy people than on curing them when they became ill. The organising manager of the association (Mr H. Coxhead) introduced the Minister, who was later accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address. During the afternoon the Minister also paid a visit to the Macandrew Intermediate School to watch a physical culture display by the boys. He briefly addressed the children, stressing the desirability of good healthy bodies. Mr Parry inspected tho teachers’ section of the Home Guard physical training class at the Y.M.C.A., where he saw recreational work being carried out. Ho outlined tho ideals of the physical welfare movement and emphasised the importance of physical well-being. ALPINE CLUB. Representatives of the Otago section of the New Zealand Alpine Club met the Minister last night, and asked him if tho Government would make a financial contribution towards the cost of five mountain huts recently built in Otago They also sought the assistance of Mr Parry’s department in providing the labour to maintain mountain tracks opened up by members of the club. “Tho war lias made it necessary for tho department to curtail all expenditure on the plans it had in view,” the Minister said in reply. He promised to loud his support to the representations made when the opportunity offered, and he congratulated the club on its contribution towards tho physical welfare of the nation. CALEDONIAN GROUND. An inquiry hinging on the possible purchase of the Caledonian Ground by tlie Dunedin City Council was addressed to Mr Parry by representatives of the Otago Provincial Council of Sport last night. They asked whether, in the event of the council buying the ground, legislation might be passed to permit admission charges to be made. Mr Parry said the ground would make an ideal physical fitness centre. The question of its purchase was still in tho balance, and until that was settled, he said, nothing else could bo considered. Ho thanked the deputation for its encouraging compliments regarding his work, which was regarded as “ one of the best plans ever devised for the welfare of sport in tho country.” AIR CADET CORPS. A visit of inspection to the headquarters of the Otago Air Cadet Corps was paid last night by Hie Minister.

He saw classes of youths at their studies, and later witnessed a display’ of physical exercises. He complimented the corps and its instructors on their work, which, he said, would prove of inestimable value to the country.