PHYSICAL FITNESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22887, 16 November 1937, Page 12

PHYSICAL FITNESS

VALUE TO COMMUNITY

CAMPAIGN IN AUSTRALIA DOMINION CAMPS ADMIRED "A realisation that the happiness of the community depends in a large measure on the physical fitness of the people has prompted the Commonwealth Government to inaugurate a plivsical fitness campaign, which is already showing beneficial results,' stated Professor Harvey Sutton, of Svdney, who arrived in Auckland by the Mariposa yesterday. Professor Sutton, who is director of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at the Sydney University, will visit the University of 01 ago in the capacity of examiner in .preventative medicine.

Well qualified to speak authoritatively oil the merits of physical fitness, Professor Sutton visited Auckland ;S7 years ago for the Australian and New Zealand athletic meeting. Ho was a prominent half-mile and mile runner, and one of the outstanding Dominion runners competing was Harper, of Canterbury. He is intensely interested in promoting the more profitable uso of leisure. Proper Use of Leisure "Is it not possible to devise some way of spending leisure which, while inexpensive and convenient, leaves one healthier and fitter at the finish, both in body and mind, leaves one a better citizen, a. better human being?" ho asked.

Speaking of developments in medicine in Australia, Professor SnUon said that tlie Commonwealth Government had sot up a National Medical Research Council, which would undertake the endowment of medical research in approved subjects. Useful results were expected from the council, as wonderful work had been achieved by a similar body in England. Great interest was being evinced in physical education in Anstialia and at present a big campaign was being conducted in Victoria and New South Wales. Valuable assistance was being rendered the campaign by Dr. Duras, formerly of Germany, who had been loaned to the .Melbourne University as a lecturer by the Carnegie Corporation. Sydney Playing Grounds

"I am a great admirer of your health camps in New Zealand," said Professor Sutton. "We have not anything quite like them in Australia, but it is a thing we might very well have. In Sydney, however there are excellent playing grounds provided, with suitable leaders and instructors. The Sydney City Council is catering for J2OU children in this way and has even provided a library. It is one of <the best things we have for the benefit of children in the more congested a reas.

"The war demonstrated many things." he added. "New Zealand was the only Dominion which had the courage to publish the results of examinations for military purposes at the time of the Great War. While the results showed the position to be better here than in Kngland. thev were not as good as they should have been. Much progress has been made since and great results are expected from the campaigns for physical fitness and more healthy diet."