NATIONAL COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, 2 May 1938, Page 7

NATIONAL COUNCIL

PHYSICAL WELFARE Appointments Announced [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May. 1. The personnel of the National Council of Physical Welfare and recreation, appointed under the legislation passed by Parliament last year, was announced on Saturday by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. Parry). It is to consist of the following:— Official representation: The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. W. Parry (Chairman); the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, Mr J. W. Heenan, C.B.E. (Deputy-Chairman); the Di-rector-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt; the Director of Education, Mr N. T. Lambourne; and an officer, yet to be appointed by the Minister of Defence, to represent the Naval, Military and Air Forces of New Zealand. Sports bodies’ representation: Dr. T. Harold Pettit (Auckland); Miss Agnes Kennedy (Auckland); Mr L. J. Brake (Whangarei); Mr W. H. Moyes (New Plymouth); Miss K. McKenzie (Napier); Dr. C. E. Hercus (Dunedin); Mr T. Meredith (Invercargill); Mr Fred C. Dunn (Christchurch); Mr A. C. Kitto (Wellington); Mrs R. S. Mclnnes (Wellington); Mr C. F. Schadick (Westport); Mr. M. H. Wilks (Taumarunui) “An important, and essential stage in bringing into effect Parliament’s legislation has now been reached,” said Mr Parry. “I am certain that the men and women selected to administer the Act will quickly gather in their work in confidence of :he pub’ic, the Sports Bodies, and the participants in all forms of sport and recreation. I should have relished power to recommend the Government to appoint the bulk of the applicants, so admirable were their experience for the work lying ahead, knowledge, and all round capabilities for membership. The members of the Council are chosen, not so much on account of their connection with any particular sport, as for their ability to render service to sport and recreation as a whole.” Stress was laid by the Minister on the appointments to be made of District Committees to serve the Council in the needs of the districts represented. “Particularly must the country districts be looked after,” Mr Parry said. “Too often in the past have country districts been neglected in the making of provision for recreational facilities. The Council will apply itself to the creating of centres where most forms of sport and recreation can be given full sway. In these centres the Committee’s work will be valueble, and doubly valuable when the Council makes its survey, which will be its first function.”

The Council was one in an advisory capacity to the Government, said Mr Parry. It would examine all proposals for the increase of facilities for the physical recreation and welfare of the people, and its recommendations would go before the Government. The Act provided for the appointment of ten non-official members of the National Council of Physical Welfare and Recreation. Twelve had been selected, and he expressed the hope that Parliament would be able to see its way to amend the Act, giving full powers of membership on the Council to the two provisional appointees, the latter, at present, would take their seats at the Council meetings, but would not, of course, exercise voting powers until Parliament agreed to their appointment. The necessity for twelve, instead of ten, unofficial members, as the Act stipulated, arose out of a consideration of geographical representation.