ORGANISED SPORT

Grey River Argus, 5 March 1937, Page 9

ORGANISED SPORT

N.Z. NATIONAL COUNCIL Government’s Scheme (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 4. Plans for a National Council of Sport were outlined by the Minister of Internal Affairs, lion W- Parry, at. Parliament Buildings, to-day, to a representative gathering of Dominion Sports Executives. Proposals are to be submitted to. various organisations, and the Minister will call a further meeting after June 30. “I have called you together in order to .discuss the formation of a national body whose object will be the encouragement and development of all sport, with the co-operation of all the different sports bodies, and the coordination of all their activities,” said the Minister. “My considered opinion is, that the foundation of a system of national physical well being must be the schools. The children will be taught real physical education, including something about their own (physical make-up. ’ ’ The Minister of Education, whose responsibility this was, would be represented, » he said, on the National Council for the sake of continuity. The organisation would control the physical education and instruction of children so long as they remain at school. In its plans for the inauguration of a National Council of Sport, the Government considered that the existing organisations need not be interfered with. Provincial Councils would link up with a National Council. The Council would consist of representatives of sports bodies with the Internal Affairs Department represented. The work of providing national playgrounds required urgent handling. The national body would have the control of pavilions/, gymnasiums, swimming baths, places of educational instruction) and libraries, and would organise parades and demonstrations of physical fitness.