National Council of Sport

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 54, 5 March 1937, Page 4

National Council of Sport

TO IMPROVE NATION’S PHYSIQUE MINISTER OUTLINES PLAN Per Pres. Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Plans for a National Council of bport wore outlined by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. J. Parry) at Parliament Buildings to-day to a representative gathering of Dominion sport 3 executives. Tne proposals are to bo submitted to the various organisations and the Alinister 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 co-ordination of all their activities," said the Alinister. "My considered opinion is that the foundation of a system of national physical wellbeiDg must be the schools. Children will be taught real physical education, including something about their own physical make-up. The Alinister of Education, whoso responsibility this way, would bo represented on tho national council for the sake of continuity. The organisation wpuld control the physical education and instruction of children so long as they remain in school. "In its plans for the inauguration of a National Council of Sport the Government considered the existing organisations need not be interfered with. Provincial councils would link up with tho National Council. The council would consist of representatives ol sports bodies with the Internal Affairs Department represented. The work of providing national playgrounds required

urgent handling. The national body would have control of pavilions, gym nasiums, swimming baths, places of educational instruction and libraries snd organise parades and demonstrations o physical fitness."