Physique of N.Z. Army Cadets Below Standard

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22868, 11 February 1949, Page 4

Physique of N.Z. Army Cadets Below Standard

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 11 Less than a third of the 90 regular force cadets who entered Trentham military camp last July managed to measure up to the average physical standard of their age group based on statistics from many overseas countries.

This was slated yesterday by George Briggs, assistant Dominion secretary of the Y.M.C.A., who conducted tests among the cadets soon after they entered camp when it was realised that these lads,' aged between 16 and 18 years, were selected by the army as beinq about the average applicant standard in physical shape. It would be seen that New Zealand had little cause for complacency about the physical well-being of its youth, said Mr. Briggs. There was, he continued, ample evidence that the development of strong bodies had not been an important objective in physical education during recent years. Tests Reveal Weaknesses Physical fiitness tests administered at Trentham had included trials of strength, speed, agility, stamina and ability to recover after a sustained period of work. In addition postural photographs of each trainee was taken. The tests revealed that three cadets could not pull themselves up to chin a bar once, seven could chin the bar once but not twice, 15 managed the task twice but failed on the third attempt. The average performance should have been six times. Lack of speed and edurance was as great as the lack of arm and shoulder strength and posture was poor in a large percentage of cases. Inquiries showed that 35 of the cadets had not played any game since leaving school and a further 27 had taken part in only one sport. This was consistent, said Mr. Briggs, with other data which showed that most adults or adolescent® retired physically, when they left school. There were several reasons for this situation, the primary one being that most adults did not consider that physical recreation was important or necessary. Marked Improvement When the results of the tests at Trentham became known, senior army officers had decided that immediate action should be taken to meet the need for physical training. They had drawn up a programme which allowed for a full half day of sport each week and a daily period of physical instruction. It had now been in operation for some months and was designed to develop bodies that could retain normal responses to stimuli in face of fatigue and continue to function effectively under physical stresses placed on them by routine and emergency tasks. After only three months under the programme, it was found through a further series of tests that the cadets showed an overall improvement of 50 per cent, in strength, speed and flexibility and that the heart rate had been slowed down by an eighth or more. Also, an average increase of more than one inch in height and several pounds in weight was recorded.