New Zealand Lagging Behind In Physical Fitness Promotion

Northern Advocate, 10 August 1938, Page 9

New Zealand Lagging Behind In Physical Fitness Promotion

J ARE NOW BEGINNING TO REALISE THAT EUROPE, NOTABLY } GREAT BRITAIN AND GERMANY, AS WELL AS THE UNITED ! STATES, IS CONSIDERABLY AHEAD OF NEW ZEALAND IN THE j SPHERE OF PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. 1 “In the Dominion, hard pioneering work kept our forebears fit, but the ! youth of today has been brought up in an artificial age. Wo have concentrated more on the welfare of animals than on that of human beings." These remarks characterised the address upon the aims of the newlyconstituted New Zealand Council of Physical Welfare and Recreation given before members of the Whangarci Young Businessmen’s Club by theNorthland representative of the council. Mr L. J. Brake, last night.

In spite of the unpleasant weather, there was a fair attendance of club members, and Mr Brake's remarks were followed with the greatest of interest. Mr G. Snodgrass occupied the chair.

of facilities already offering in Ibis direction,’’ he said. “On the West Coast already three swimming baths have been built. Whangarci has not capitalised the resources offering in the men now working at Kensington Park, and it is well recognised that the swimming facilities in Whangarci are totally inadequate. “All these ideas can be made into suggestions to be presented for the consideration of Cabinet,” he added. Attention to Diet.

Mr Brake’s talk was preceded by the showing of a short cinematographic film emphasising the important position physical education is taking in the training of teachers in the present day, a number of views of students at the Auckland Teachers’ Training College being given. The film depicted many phases of instruction in games, drill, swimming and life-saving, and other out-door activities at the college. The views wherein 560 students were shown In the’course of a mass display were most impressive. The filming was made possible by the use of Mr C. R. Lovatt’s projector. Establishment of Council.

Another aspect of public health upon which tlie council’s attention was already engaged and upon which a report from medical experts was to be secured was that of diet, continued Mr Brake.

“The position is alarming in Whangarei, as in the rest of New Zealand,” he declared. “We are seeing constant additions to the local hospital, and people are contracting diseases from which they should never I suffer, simply through the neglect of this important aspect of life. They are suffering through lack of intelligence and lack of proper direction. “There' is no doubt that in taking what action it has, the Government is working on the right lines,” continued Mr Brake. “The measure went through the House unopposed, shewing that those legislating for us are recognising the need for national development in the sphere of physical fitness.” Compulsory Training? At the speaker’s request, those present engaged in a full discussion of several of the points he had traversed, particular attention being given to the question of whether physical training should be compulsory or not. Mr Brake suggested that compulsory training might well be introduced for young people between the ages of perhaps 17 and 20, when they could best be imbued with the necessary principles, and the groundwork which would be laid in the schools would not be wasted through subsequent indifference.

Mr Brake briefly reviewed the facts through which had arisen necessity for recognition of the need for physical education in New Zealand. The Physical Welfare and Recreation Act was passed in 1937 as the result of the awakening of national consciousness to the need for attention to the physical welfare of both adults and youth in the Dominion, it being an unfortunate fact that New Zealand was by no means to the forefront of the world in this respect.

“The youth of New Zealand has grown up in motor cars,” said Mr Brake. “Many countries are averse to compulsion by way of military drill, and the proposed work of the National Council of Physical Welfare and Re-

creation is taking its place. It is recognised that the changes in modern conditions of warfare have rendered much of the military training of the compulsory type unsuited to actual service conditions, and that a fit mind and a fit body can, if the necessity arises, be much more readily moulded to the nation’s requirements in this respect.” Advisory Capacity Only.

Reviewing the constitution of the council, Mr Brake said that in the first place it was purely an advisory body, and would have no administrative power, being able only to make recommendations to Cabinet. The personnel of the council had been appointed on a geographical basis, giving each province adequate representation, and the speaker’s own district extended from Wellsford to the Far North.

“The young people of today do not recognise the importance of discipline,” he said. "We have a number of slackers, and compulsion is the only way to bring them to a proper realisation. These slackers of the present time would be the first to recognise the value of compulsion in their later years.” It was the general feeling of the meeting that compulsox’y physical education would be the most desirable means of putting the scheme into effect, and indeed the only practical method which could be adopted.

“Nothing can be done rapidly in New Zealand,” said Mr Brake. "We are at present gathering what information and material we can from other countries and arc using it to develop the lines of action in New Zealand.

Mr McFarlane considered that the Government’s legislation in this respect the finest yet passed through the House, and that such measures had been badly needed for some time. He stressed the importance of correct training for the proposed instructors, otherwise considerable harm, instead of benefit, might result. Mr B. Crawford spoke of the need for facilities for physical education not only for young folk, but also for those of more advanced years. Dealing with the question of compulsion, Mr Crawford pointed out that no alteration in the routine of the life of the individual could be made without compulsion,

“We know that in Germany, for instance, thousands of young people arc using their leisure hours in physical training, and it will be readily recognised that this must be not only of individual but of national benefit." Proposed Operation. Dealing with the objects of the council, Mr Brake said it was desired to make the fullest use and secure all possible co-operation from such existing bodies as sports clubs, the Y.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A., the Women's Division of the Farmers’ Union and all others who could be of any assistance whatever. It was particularly desired to bring the benefit of the new movement as much to country people as to those in the towns. It had been suggested that a Chair of Physical Education should be established at Otago University lor the specialised training of young people as instructors for the instruction in turn of others. Each district representative was to be called upon to supervise the establishment of local committees, and it was through these that the newly-trained instructors could do their best work.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Mr Brake was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address.

This process would of necessity take some time, two years’ training being necessary for the instructors, but in the meantime, it was anticipated, l the services of people already qualified could be requisitioned in order to avoid delay in putting the scheme into operation. Mr Brake said it would also be the aim of the council to assist existing organisations for physical development. While nothing would be given for nothing, this did not mean, he con-

sidcrcd, that no financial assistance would be forthcoming for local organisations. Whore those who desired additional facilities were willing to help themselves, the Government would be willing to render assistance, possibly by providing men whom the country could not absorb into industry to carry out the necessary manual labour involved hi tile construction of sports grounds, swimming-baths and other amenities. I Whangarei Lacks Facilities, j “It is unfortunate that in Northland ' to date no advantage has been taken