THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY “Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1946 NEW ZEALAND

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32673, 6 February 1946, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY “Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1946 NEW ZEALAND

From experience in 12 countries Mr A. Smithells, superintendent of physical education, has concluded that the term “slouch” canjbe applied to the posture of the' average New Zealand citizen. So he told a summer school on post-primary physical education at New Plymouth. Even if Mr Smithells’ conclusion from a mere comparison with men in other countries may be questioned it is still true that there is much room for improvement in the. physical posture of New Zealanders, and if the lesson he taught were the only result of the summer school it would have been well worth while. It was almost unfortunate that Mr Smithells added that many old ideas about the harmful effects of incorrect posture had been exploded.' For instance, he said, there was actually more room for the lungs in a slouched than in an upright posture. Nevertheless he was emphatic that' the aim of physical instructors must be to cause young people to take a pride in themselves and adopt an upright posture. He inferred that diffidence was often the reason for “some schoolboys adopting perpetually the attitude of Rugby footballers.” It cannot be agreed, however, that a slouch is either necessary to or characteristic of the Rugby player. Probably the best average specimens of physical development in New Zealand are those who play the game. The development of rpan’s physical posture and its relation to the advancement of the species go back to the dawn of things. In spite of the stories of the cave men there is no doubt that the early man was a bad case of defective posture. He might have developed brute strength but he had very primitive ideas of health and certainly had not learned the secrets of longevity. Generally, physical posture improves with the development of the brain, for the simple reason that brainpower indicates a wise selection of food, exercise and other essential attributes of health and physical pride, among which posture is of outstanding importance.