TOPICS OF THE HOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17651, 11 December 1920, Page 4 (Supplement)

TOPICS OF THE HOUR.

by -vnriEN. With Christmas only a fortnight away, the attention rf young and old alike is at present devoted to work and plans for the festivities of the season, and the energies of the girl members of the Y.W.C.A. have lately been concentrated almost entirely' 1 on preparations for their Christmas Fair, which is to be held this afternoon. Many dainty articles- suitable for Christmas gifts have been made by the girls, and as there will be music, refreshments, and numerous attractions, the fair ought to prove a great success. Conspicuous among the various schemes which have been devised to give pleasure to the lonely or unfortunate will be an attractive Christmas tree, which, it is hoped, will receive numerous gifts designed for those to whom the season usually brings tittle happiness or brightness. Christmas makes such heavy de- j mands on the time, energy and spending capacity of people who love to bestow lavish gifts|on their friends that they are somewhat apt to forget that there are many to whom Christmas presents are unknown and for whom Christmas festivities exist only in their dreams. Yet Christmas is above all the season of joy and love, the season when the spirit of giving reigns supreme, and to whom could one better give than- to those who have nothing? A sudden spell of hot weather is always the signal for lovers of the water to gel out bathing-suits in preparation for the popular summer sport, and already public baths and beaches alike show unusual signs of activity for the time of year." The, swimming classes which have been formed in connection with the Y.W.C.A. opened recently at the Tepid Baths, and the keenest enthusiasm is being shown by the members. The classes are under the tuition of Mr. D. B. Anderson, and the 106 members who have enrolled have been divided into three grades, comprising beginners, intermediate and advanced swimmers. During the last year or two there has been a considerable amount of discussion abroad anent the suitability of violently strenuous games for girls, and the wisdom of an exhaustive course of training in physical culture and Swedish drill has on various occasions been seriously questioned by experts, who have devoted a good deal of earnest thought and time to the subject. But even the most vigorous opponents ■of the system of physical , training, which at present prevails in our schools and colleges, have nothing but good "to say of. swimming"" 'as* ; a sport and. a' means' of exercise for girls:, Unless indulged in to excess, when, .'of. course, • any . form ; o,f exercise becomes harmful or . dangerous, swimming; or. even mere sea-bathing, is not Only ; refreshing and .invigorating,- but healthful': and,, beneficial Vih' every .way. Auckland lis 5 peculiarly fortunate in possessing . numerous ;delightful •, bays, and beaches which are both safe and pleasant for bathing; and in view- of the enervating weather which"iisual]y\ prevails;, here i: iq/ v the;:, summer-time, Aucklanders ( cannot better , fortify mind and- body against the fading . influence -of vhot; -breathless days "arid' nights than .by frequent plunges; into .the .refreshing coolness of * the salt: sea waves. "•'■■■ ...... - ' •• ■*'■- '- ■■ '■-;'. In most households.at the present-time plans ff of".,the j; spending ,of the :i summerholidays prove at least as fruitful a source of .discussion, ;as do -schemes for : the actual keeping .of the Christmas' festival. ~--.■". .'The ■ high cost of food ;and . clothing ' and • the bare necessities '■„ of life nowadays, the expenses of travelling ; and the ' difficulty: of. obtaining .summer cottages or. boarding accommodation have all combined to make ; the problem ; one - of. - unusual ; ■ perplexity, this year, and ' there . are many worriedhouseholders who are gravely concerned as to their chances. of providing suitable 7 and .'adequate - holiday..;; pleasure and recuperation for their i families, or even' of ; providing them with the means "of enjoying any' holiday at all. J ■ Under the circumstances, therefore,' it is somewhat to be wondered at that New; Zealand has- not long-ago' adopted; with enthusiasm. :a' -t-hbliday- ; scheme which has now become immensely popular : in' Great Britain— . caravan tour. :; .■: : '".-.' .. ''.-. "■■;'' ;^, -•■'•> . ' : "~~^' r '.:,^l

; flt is such an. ideal. way of making holiday ;/ and so £ . eminently >suitable. : ; for the J family-party. Providing as it' does end- ■ less variety in \[ scenery) .''eamprngrground and occupation, it also affords facili- : ties for ; these, who enjoy '<. plenty of walking' exercise,, and for those whose physical ■capacity '■'.[ is ? sufficiently limited, to- make caravan-travelling more , /a'greeaolei ;=' or atleast a welcome change'oecasionaMly. But . above all—and 'j this i should :; prove the strongest argument in its; favour ; at the present time—-it entirely relieves.: the party of all trouble and anxiety in the matter ! of housing.s accommodation;' since .it provides adequate shelter at all .times and in all weathers. New Zealand offers such [.excellent opportunities for a tour, of this 'sprtjJsuch variety of country,* scenery, and' [• holiday • sport, • and usually such fine j weather conditions ■' during ; the Christmas j vacation, that it is to be hoped that' this ! year the; exigencies of the present time, if | nothing else, will induce many people to | prove for themselves the joys of a caravan itrip. ■"•. ''• _•" "; - V: -:

."So much for "the holiday of the familyparty. But for 7 young people, at least, there is another alternative .which forms a .method of . holiday making ; at , least equally beneficial and even less expensive —the walking tour. Once again, it is a form of holiday which is far more popular in England than it has yet become; in ; New Zealand, though, in this case, .of course, the reason is not far to seek. In - England, splendid roads, well-marked . routes, and, a country, almost entirely in, a state of. cultivation, all help to provide ideal conditions for.'si, Walking-party, -while the dense settlement of the land makes ■ it an easy matter to get food and shelter ; at any time and at any point through the. ; length and ; , breadth Jof the country. , In i New Zealand, where there are great, tracts of uncultivated, unpopulated, - little-ex-plored country, the difficulties are far greater, and plans must be made with'. greater care. Yet these very difficulties must have a fascination, an" element of wonder and adventure and romance for the true lover of walking. Moreover, many... of. the little-known parts of New Zealand are so beautiful and' at present so inaccessible to the ordinary- traveller in boat or train, coach or motor, that walking is often far superior to any other means of" locomotion for a. reason '.which does - not even exist in England. Hence, if the members of a walking party, equip themselves beforehand,.with a sound knowledge of the . necessary routes and stop-ping-places, -if they, possess a" fund of practical : common * sense, foresight; and resourcefulness, if they are I; reasonably prepared for every emergency and set out in i ' •the "true holiday-spirit,"; prepared sto "enjoy; and to make the best, of everythingthen v .there. is every probability --that; they will return home convinced that ; a walking-tour is an ideal way of ;sseeing ; the country■ and. a;;;delightful : method iof : holiday--1 making.,. _ >_ _ -