MOTUEKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 26 January 1939, Page 4

MOTUEKA

! PHYSICAL FITNESS WEEK REPRESENTATIVE MEETING i VIEWS OF MR C. F. SKINNER M.P. I Prom Our Own CorreepomlenH A public meeting, convened by the Mayor, Mr R. J. L. York, of representatives of the various sports bodies and others interested in the proposed “Physical Fitness Week” was held in the Council Chambers last evening. The Mayor, in explaining the object of the meeting said it had been con- ! I vened in response to a request by the , | Internal Affairs Department for the no- J I operation of all in arranging “Physical 1 Witness Week” demonstrations. A circular letter containing a pro- j j gramme drawn up by the Internal At- j i fairs Department for the guidance ofj I local committees when drawing up their 1 own programmes was read by Mr A. L. [j Kirk. j | One of the objects of the Government j | was, the Mayor said, to revive the dej sire for physical fitness and for rccrea- I I I lion. A week’s programme of activi-j [■ ties was out of iiic question as far as j ! Motueka was concerned, but he did ) think some* demonstrations should be ' conducted locally, during the period 1 1 suggested—lßlh to 25th February. The j i schools of the district would, Mr York 1 1 said, play a prominent part in the act!- | vitics. 11 11 was resolved on the motion of j Messrs J. Pocklington and J. Failover i that a physical fitness campaign be held in Motueka during the week 18th io ! 25th February. I ! EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SET UP i The meeting agreed, on the motion of j the Mayor and Mr C. E. Morrison, that lan executive committee of sixteen be j set up. Those appointed to the comi mittee were: Messrs V. Evans, J. Goocli yer, J. Pocklington, J. Failover, A. E. I Fry, C. F. Skinner M.P., H. Whitwe.ll, fA. G. Nightingale, C. E. Morrison, V. I Wallis. J. T. Brough, F. A Hamilton, ||G F. Smith, W. M. Thomas, Lieut. I!, j Rowe, and Miss I. McGlashon, with I j chairman and secretary ex-officio. The 1 above represented the schools, Athletic Club, Rugby Union, Hockey Club, Swimming! Club, Tennis Club, Boy

Scouts, Legion of Frontiersmen, Education Board, R.S.A., Golf and Bowling Clubs, Territorials and Basketball Association. MEMBERSHIP BADGES Mr Hy. Manoy suggested that membership badges be issued by the committee as a means of recruiting members for the various sports bodies, and moved that this be a recommendation to the committee for its consideration. The motion was seconded by Mr Pocklington and carried. Mr York expressed the opinion that the proposed Physical Fitness Week was; only the starting point for the re- j arrangement of all sports. A perman-i ent committee would, in due course, bo set up, the functions of which would be to make a complete survey of the district’s requirements to bring its : young people up to a reasonable stanI dard of fitness. The scheme, Mr York said, needed the co-operation of the j whole community. If any profit was ; made from the physical fitness camI paign the money would be retained | locally with the permanent committee. | jas trustees. He believed that, if the campaign was taken up enthusiastically, the local grounds and amenities could be much- improved. He would be wholeheartedly behind any movement that would make for the physical fitness of the people. A programme could, he thought, be drawn up that would help; to bring the sports bodies in closer con-1 tact with one another, and create a better understanding.

The Mayor expressed pleasure at seeing so many representatives of sport; bodies present, and also took the opportunity of extending a welcome tc

Mr C. F. Skinner M.P. who, he said, would give his full support to the movement. COMPULSORY PHYSICAL TRAINING ADVOCATED Mr S. B. Canavan stated that he believed in compulsory physical training, because there was a tendency on the part of those under the standard to | stay away and avoid taking part m any sport that would improve them physically. “The very people for whom the scheme* is designed were therefore missed under a voluntary arrange- ! ment,” said Mr Canavan, who moved that the Minister of Internal Affairs be ? written to recommending the institution ' of compulsory evening physical classes for the young people. 1 SUPPORTED BY MR SKINNER Mr Skinner, in seconding the motion ! thought the idea was a good one. and : i one that would benefit the people gen--1 orally. If put into practice it would bring into training groups of people that could not be reached under a voi- • i untary system, which went so far but ■ | not far enough. C | Mr Morrison pointed out that such a ■; scheme would require a large number - ! of trained instructors to carry it out satisfactorily. The object of the “PhyI i sical Fitness Week.” as he understood -■it, was to encourage the young people -‘to join the various sports clubs. •| The Mayor said the motion moved by -I Councillor Canavan was outside the 1 i physical fitness week Campaign, and, he ?! thought, the proposer intended it to be 1 taken as a long view of the position. 2j Mr Canavan replied that the idea of t; the motion was to raise the standard i f - i physical fitness, which he contended | could not be attained under any volunf j tary scheme. t i Mr Hy. Manoy considered the moveJ i ment should start in the schools, and ) instruction followed up on the pupils 1 leaving school. i Mr J. A. McGlashen expressed the J opinion that it was not the intention of j the Minister of Internal Affairs to I; make training compulsory. • | Mr Skinner admitted that voluntary e training was the ideal, but so often those for whom the training would be beneficial, would not come forward as ; they were conscious of their unfitness. For these people, he stated, compulsory • training was necessary. The physical , fitness of the nation, was, Mr Skinner said, a grave and serious problem that -j must be faced. To-day qmong nations > it. was the survival of the fittest. , Mr L. Manoy spoke in support of , training being necessary for the iru- ,, provement of the physique of the

people. Mr J. Failover said he would like to sec the recommendation go forward to the Minister, for, from his experience, it was most difficult to get young people to interest themselves in sports bodies. On being put to the meeting the At. the conclusion of the business the committee met and decided to discuss arrangements in respect to a programme for Physical Fitness Week at a meeting to be held next Thursday cven-

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

A team from the Nelson Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club will journey to Motueka this evening and participate in a programme of running and cycling The programme, which will commence at 7 p.m. is as follows: 100 Yards men’s race; 75 yards ladies’ race; halfmile cycle; 220 yards men’s race; one mile cycle; hop, step and jump; threemiles cycle; 440 yards ladies’ relay. If time permits the high jump and ! putting the shot will also be added.

BOY SCOUTS

RESIGNATION OF SCOUTMASTER ■ At a special meeting of the Motueka •j Scout Committee, held last evening, a letter was received from the Scoutmaster, Mr N. H. Cozens tendering his resignation.*

The writer stated that lie would shortly be leaving Motueka to reside in Nelson and he washed the troop and the committee success in their scouting work in the future. Mr G. Manifold presided and other members present were Mesdames Inwood, James, Manifold, Warren and Messrs V. Wallis and N. Cozens. The chairman, after explaining why the meeting had been called, expressed regret at the coming departure of Mr Cozens, who had rendered such excellent services to the movement. Mr Cozens had, he said, come to the aid of the committee at a critical time, when no scoutmaster had been available. He had re-organised the troop; and members of the committee appreciated very much the amount of work he had done on behalf of the boys. It I was unfortunate for the troops and the | committee that Mr Cozens was leaving j the district, but he wouid carry away j with him to his new sphere of work | the oest wishes of every member. | Scoutmasters, he understood, were not i too plentiful, and he felt sure that Mr j Cozens would continue his association j with the scout movement when lie had j settled in Nelson. Mrs G. James also spoke in eulogistic terms of Mr Cozens’ work in the interest of the troop and of the sincere regard and respect of the scouts for their scoutmaster. Mrs In wood expressed the gratitude of parents for the benefits the boys had derived under the guidance of Mi ! Cozens. After.other members present had endorsed the previous speakers’ remarks, Mr Cozens returned thanks for the good wishes. He had. he said, enjoyed his work amongst the scouts; the members of the troop were very fine boys and they had got on well together. He had also found the committee meetings very enjoyable and would miss his asso- * ciation with the members, but would carry away with him many pleasant memories. He had felt it was his duty to find a successor to himself as scoutmaster and had approached Mr E Light; and he was pleased to report that Mr Light, who had been a scout some years ago, was willing to lake charge of the troop. As he would, however, be leaving the district at the end of twelve months, he would, in the meantime, accept the position of actingscoutmaster. MR E. LIGHT APPOINTED ACTING-SCOUTMASTER In proposing that appreciation of Mr Cozens’ services as scoutmaster be placed on record, Mr Wallis referred to the fine friendly spirit which existed between the boys and their scoutmaster, adding that, with the departure of Mr Cozens he also was losing u personal friend. On the motion of Mr Manifold and Mrs Warren it was decided that Mr

Light be appointed acting-scoutmaster and that headquarters be notified accordingly. CORRESPONDENCE Mr H. N. Toomer. District Secretary, wrote inviting members of the committee also scout and cubmasters to attend a “welcome home” social to be tendered to officers and scouts who had attended the Sydney Jamboree, in the; All Saints’ social room on Monday next, j The chairman assured members that f any one attending would receive a cor- ! dial welcome. Mr Cozens informed the meeting that j it was the intention of the troop toj hold a social evening at the scout room < on Monday next, when the investiture; I of two or three boys would take place j Members of the committee were asked i j to participate. It was decided that Scoutmaster ; Green, of Wellington, be thanked for ! scout books, which he had sent to the troop.