CONDITIONS IN CHICAGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22300, 24 December 1935, Page 15

CONDITIONS IN CHICAGO

FUTURE WORKING WEEK HENRY FORD'S PREDICTION RECREATION FOR ADULTS The trend of social and industrial conditions in the United States makes it apparent that in the near future a four or five-day working week will ho instituted, and the schemo is expected to provide at least a partial solution of a problem created by scientific development, said Mr. Archibald T. Campbell, of the recreation division of the Chicago Park System, who arrived in Auckland by the Aorangi yesterday. Mr. Campbell, who is on a world tour, is paying particular attention to the provision given for recreation in the various cities of the world. It was the general opinion in Chicago that a shorter working week must bo instituted to overcome various problems, continued Mr. Campbell. Henry Ford stirred the people's realisation to the fact recently, when predicting that it would soon bo necessary to instituto a four-day working week. He said the world was not in the midst of the machine age, as was generally held, but it was merely on tho threshold. A great change was to take place in the social conditions of all countries. The solving of one problem invariably created another, commented Mr. Campbell. With the shorter working week, the people would have considerably more time on their hands, and the civic authorities of Chicago, realising this as likely to develop into a social menace, had devised a plan of adult recreation. Already, Chicago had over 80 parks and recreation grounds with indoor and outdoor gymnasiums Pavilions with stages and other facilities for musical and dramatic entertainment had been built, while many of the parks had large swimming pools with professional life-guards in charge. Tennis, baseball, ice-skating and many other branches of sport were catered for, while clubs for the learning of various crafts had also been formed. Discussing sport, Mr. Campbell said that tennis was rapidly becoming one of the most popular games in America, and there were a number of young players coming on, who would be seen in international tournaments in the near future. Among younger people, baseball had lost considerable ground, while hockey followers were increasing each season. An ordinary club game would attract over 25,000 people. The severe winter conditions, however, were a handicap to hockey. Racing appeared to be a favourite sport of all, and in Chicago there were seven racecourses. With the exception of Sundays, there was racing every day for six months in the year. The totalisator was the method adopted for betting. Bookmakers were permitted on New York tracks only.