SPORTS PROPOSALS

Grey River Argus, 19 August 1937, Page 6

SPORTS PROPOSALS

No Regimentation HON MR. PARRY’S ADDRESS. [Per Press Association] WELLINGTON, August 17. Representatives of sports bodies in the Dominion met to-day, in conference with, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Parry) to consider the setting up of a National Council of Sport and. Recreation. Mr Parry said the question before the conference was to consider whether a body as suggested by the Swimming and Life Saving Associations was desirable, or whether a national body be appointed in an advisory capacity to the Government, independent of the sports bodies. Mr Parry mentioned a bill passed in England, but said that in New Zealand, sports organisations were oeing consulted before the Bill was prepared. The views of sports organisations were solicited mainly on the possibilities of the formation of a national body to carry out a policy. That policy was to embrace a plan in co-operation with sports bodies for sport recreation and attainment of physical fitness of the nation. The scheme decided upon must embrace the whole field of physical culture. It should therefore, include arrange-: ments for increasing the supply not only of gymnasia, but also of playing fields, swimming baths and other means of physical culture. It was particularly essential that local interest should be stimulated, and local effort co-ordinated to this ehd. It seemed desirable that local committees should be formed in various centres for the purpose of examining the needs of the area, and consider how the unsatisfied needs could best be met. They would constitute a channel through which applications to the, national body for grants could be made, and the committees when forwarding applications would express views as to the relative importance of the various proposals and other comments it may be necessary to make. He emphasised that he did not desire to create the regimentation of sport or recreation. “You are well aware that the actual provisions of facilities are at present insufficient in amount, and sporadic in incidence, and hampered as it is by lack of funds, for development, cannot do more than touch the fringe of the problem. It is to make good these deficiencies that the present proposals are put forward. The first function of any national organisation set up by the Government/Will be to survey the whole field of recreation, to ascertain incidentally, (a) what ate the existing facilities, (b) what additional or new facilities are required now or are to be required over a period of years, (c) how those should be provided and how best used, and naturally there would be co-operation between the organisations of Health and Education, and contact and co-operation, between the sports bodies and the primary and secondary schools. "I wish to say to the sports bodies, and to flie people, that underlying the proposals is a sincere and earnest desire to cultivate and stimulate physical fitness and clean healthy bodies. Every idea and suggestion! making for the accomplishment ofp

this objective will have my deep consideration. I believe wholeheartedly that with a national functioning organisation on the lines proposed, it will give vigorous impetus towards the achievement of gooa health and physical development of the nation.”