FLOODLIGHT SPORTS

Matamata Record, Volume XX, Issue 2012, 27 February 1939, Page 1

FLOODLIGHT SPORTS

' “ PHYSICAL FITNESS ” End of Matamata Campaign The Matamata Physical Fitness , Week campaign- ended in a blaze of glory on Saturday night when, in spite of strong counter-attractions, well over • 1000 people attended at Bedford Park for the floodlight "sports. The gate takings were near* ly £25. The programme submitted, .was : a Very varied one, and embraced cycling, running. Highland dancing, displays by the Scouts and pupils of the High School, and selections by •the band, all of which were very well received. The sports were well organised and the programme was runoff smoothly to finish just before 10 p.m. The whole evening reflected great credit on the officials and participants in * the programme. Results were: Cycling

Half-mile: H. Hirst 1, J. Smith 2, S. Hall 3. Time, lm 20s. Half-mile School Boys: G. Williams 1. T. Bellamy 2, I. Williams 3. -#Time, lm 255.* One Mile Scratch: C. Swinbourn 1, M. Coles 2, R. Horst 3. Time 2m 30s. Half-mile Match Race: A. H. Moon ! 1, C Swinbourn 2. Time, lm 15s. | Half-mile Match Race: M. Coles 1. r A. Robinson 2.- Time, lm 255. f *wo Miles Handicap: J. Smith 1, 2, R. Hirst 3, C. Swinbourn Time, 5m 435. •

Running Half-mile: J. Jones (Matamata) 1, H. Udy (High School) 2. R. Jones (Matamata) 3. Time, 2m 12 3-ss. 100 Yards Handicap: T. Green (High School) 1, R. Peddie (High School) 2, D. McPhaTl (High School) 3. Time, 12s. ] I 220 Yards: D. McPhail (High ' (School) 1, R. Peddie (High School), 2, G. Williams (High School) 3. Time , * 245, I I' Inter-club Relay, 440 yards: High, ' School 1, Matamata Club 2, High School B 3, Time, 495, ' ! "One Mile Open: W. Potter (Mata-. ! mata) 1, B. Burke (High School) 2.I:’ Williams (High School) 3. Time, ' 5m 2 4-ss. , Shops Relay, 440 yards: Wallace. Supplies, Ltd., 1. F.A.C., Ltd., 2. < j Tug-of-war: Manchester Unity de- . . feated Druids in the final |

ACTIVITIES OF WEEK Chamber of Commerce Address The need for excessive car,e in the handling of children for the first seven years of their lives if the nation was to reap the fruits of dis-

ciplined manhood, was stressed by i Dr. D. R. Abernethy during an ad--1 dr'ess at a Chamber of ■ Commerce 1 luncheon last week. | Mr. H. E. Schofield presided over I a luncheon which was arranged as part of the National Physical Fitness , Week campaign. Among those attending were the Mayor. Mr. W. A. ■ Gordon, the deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. E. Wrigley, and Mr. H. W. Sargeant, a 1 visitor from New South Wales

| The chairman, in introducing the

' speaker, stated that the chamber had willingly complied with the request ( to arrange the luncheon as part of I the Matamata campaign. ! Mr. Gordon remarked that the parade on Saturday had given a most auspicious start to Matamata’s I effort in the cmpaign. He had npt ' thought it was possible to work up f so much enthusiasm locally. He felt the success was largely due to the energy of the secretary. Mr. A. E, 1 Wrigley, * The remarks of the guest of hon--1 our were received with great interest by those attending, i Mr. C. J. Fleming doubted if the present national campaign went to : the root of the subject. ) The chairman agreed and regretted time did not permit of a discussion.

Feeding. Babies In opening, Dr. Abernethy stated that from a ' medical standpoint he J would divide his remarks under the headings of infancy, childhood, j young adult life and middle age onj wards. I It was most important that an infant should be breast fed. Doctors found that a rather high proportion of young mothers were not able to so feed their babies. This appeared to the speaker to be an unnatural state of affairs, but it had to be admitted it was so. Artificial feeding was mostly, based on diluted cow’s milk. The main difficulty was the different quantity of sugar and the different quality of the curd formed in the stomach. The latter difficulty could be overcome by boiling the milk, and from that 'point 6f view cow’s milk was brought nearer to human milk. It was essential that a baby received its feeding regularly, arid got sufficient sleep and rest; Adults riiade a great mistake in ‘handling babies too much. This was a great temptation, he knew, but it was .absolutely wrong and it caused (great mental and physical strain to the child.

Life All Play A child should he left alone to

feed, sleep and play until it was quite old. It should be all play with a child and adults were often a little hit selfish as even holding a child in their arms tired it.

I Care should be taken to see that the clothing was right. - A child should be brought up with sufficient discipline until it was seven years of age, so that it could then mix with its fellows,' having some idea of what was right and what was wrong. This seemed a simple thing, but the art of parenthood was a diffiCUt one. It was essential that this course be followed, as later the child would not have its parents at beck and call, but would have to mix with others, make its own friends and rely on its own judgment. Whether a child would make good or not de- ! pended largely on the training it received till seven years of age, the S rest depending on inherited characI teristics. Too little attention was | paid to parenthood when children | were young, and doctors could easily i pick those children who were uni trained. Food Faddism In a country like New Zealand, all except the stupid should have a balanced diet. There should be a fair

proportion of fresh fruits and vegetables .in the diet. Vegetables were necessary, not so much for their nutritional value, as for their bulk, which enabled the digestive organs to function. Fruit, vegetables and milk contained vitamins in minute quantities which were necessary foxgrowth. Speaking generally people should have a well-mixed diet and not become food faddists even if fashionable. •

Risk of Strain

The early adult life ambition was hot, and it was necessary to cater for a maximum output of energy. It was at this stage that the body and brain was built up for the youth to acquire farne and fortune. A word of warning was necessary to ensure that between the ages of from 12-13 years to 17-18 years there was not too much striving and straining, as this was harmful. At this period a child should not be pushed - too much. It was very necessary at this stage to combine play and mental activity. However, he saw no great barm in a bit of push being applied or homework given,' provided the child forgot all about it when games were played. If this were not so. then nervous wrecks would be made.

Middle Age

In middle, age less food and less sleep were necessary. Only sufficient food to maintain the body, and not to build it up, was necessary, and they need not worry if they did not sleep as long. Activities should be controlled at this stage,. and people should not “go the whole hog ” till 60, as there was liability to grave danger in this. They should take things easier and thereby live more happily and for a longer span.

Need for Glasses

At 45 every man and woman needed glasses for close reading. This was quite a natural state, and should cause no worry, and it was siniply a case of the focussing muscles of the eyes stiffening up.

Many of the disabilities suffered at this period of life were due to upsets in the nervous mechanism of the body, which was not just a t lump of flesh. There was a delicate mechanism which controlled the balance of physical and mental exertion, and many of the breakdowns were due to undue mental strain.

Taking everything into account he 'would say that there was a need for more discipline in the younger generation. SIDELIGHTS Tennis Contingent— Among those who took part in the inaugural procession on Saturday week were 24 members of the Matamata Tennis Club. Unfortunately the champions, including Misses Margaret and Nessie Beverley, were away playing for Waikato against Taranaki at Hamilton, but, nevertheless, the contingent, with a large banner with the word “Tennis” inscribed -on it at the head, made a fine showing and was worthy of the club.

; Progressive Tennis— I On Saturday afternoon the share Of the Matamata Tennis Club in the Physical Fitness programme was to hold a progressive tennis tourna-

ment. This was well supported by club members and also by players from almost all of the surrounding clubs. Over 60 players took part. The winner of the men’s section proved to be Ivan Hawes, a promising junior, and of the ladies’ section. Mrs. Green.

The Cup That Cheers— Organising such programmes as that of Saturday is tiring work to the few who are responsible to see that no detail is omitted and no hitch occurs. Thus when the executive of the Matamata. Tennis Club thoughtfully rose to the occasion and invited the Mayor and officials on the adjoining Domain to afternoon tea the invitation was promptly accepted and fully appreciated. X Cooking Demonstrations — As part of the week’s programme the cooking department at the Matamata District High School was thrown open to the general public. Classes of girls, under Miss Liddell, domestic science teacher, were engaged during the afternoons of Tues-

day, Wednesday and Thursday giving demonstrations. These included different methods of preserving fruits and vegetables, jam making, and the making of a large assortment of salads. On Tuesday there were no visitors, but on Wednesday a few turned Up at the school. Unfortunately it did not appear to be generally known that special demonstrations had been arranged, and the girls and staff were somewhat disappointed that little interest appeared to he taken in their efforts. However, on Thursday Mrs. G. Stewart, president of the Matamata Women’s Institute, got a fairly large party together and attended at the technical • school. All were delighted with the fine new appointments of the new culinary department, the methods of teaching, and the aptitude and ability of the girls. The exhibition was

greatly appreciated by those attending, whose visit was also pleasing to the school authorities and pupils.-