PHYSICAL WELFARE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23026, 2 May 1938, Page 8

PHYSICAL WELFARE

Now that the members of the j National Council of Physical Welfare and Recreation have been chosen, it may be hoped that the Minister of Internal Affairs will move rapidly from the stage of aspiration to action. Public opinion is impressed with the need of raising j physical standards. Indeed the j public mind has probably never been more receptive on this subject. There is a widespread feeling that the Government, in its social insurance proposals, has not given enough attention to the active promotion of health. Whether Mr. Parry's scheme is so conceived as to correct the omission may be doubted, but at least it is a beginning which should be capable of steady development. The personnel of the council announced this morning appears to be strong and representative. It is notable that the membership includes some physical educationists, although the bias in favour of sport may prove to be strong. The question is whether New Zealanders are not already completely "sport-conscious" and whether organisation and effort could not better be directed toward physical training. Actually teaching on how to use the body, and the development of its full powers, would exercise a far more potent influence for good oh national health than the promotion of more games. Such education should precede the organisation of sport. As it is, men, women and children enter enthusiastically on games with little knowledge of physical control and sometimes do themselves more harm than good, especially when the games are strenuous. Physical education should therefore be regarded by the new council as the first essential for the nation. Emphasis placed there would also contribute to higher proficiency in and enjoyment of sport of all kinds.