NATIONAL FITNESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23276, 20 February 1939, Page 11

NATIONAL FITNESS

CAMPAIGN BEGINS GIRLS' DRILL DISPLAY SCENE IN EDEN PARK APPRECIATION BY PUBLIC The seven days' campaign in aid of national fitness was opened in an auspicious manner at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon, when a large number of girls from Auckland business houses gave a fine display of physical training under the auspices' of the Auckland Girls' Athletic Association. Cricket matches in the senior championship competition of tho Auckland Cricket Association were suspended for an hour to enable the display to be given. To the music of tho Auckland Watersido Workers' Band tho girls marched on to the main oval in their bright array of uniforms to carry out their programme of exercises. There was a largo attendance to see tho demonstration. Under tho direction of Mr. K. C. l?eid, physical instructor at tho Auckland Teachers' Training College, tho girls commenced with a display of circle ball. Tho handling was as crisp and clean as it was at tho recent girls' inter-house competitions at Carlaw Park and again brought applause from the crowd.

An exhibition of flag drill, in which tho precision was very exact, followed, and then caine demonstrations of various types of relay events. Tho girls performed their evolutions in a most praiseworthy manner, the results iof their assiduous training being very manifest. Judging by the prolonged applause, the display achieved its object of showing Aucklanders the fine grace and fitness that can bo achieved by active participation in sport and exercise. TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME CLASSES AT Y.W.C.A. EXHIBITIONS OF BOXING BASEBALL DEMONSTRATIONS . Various displays and other activities will take place to-day in conjunction with tho physical fitness campaign which began on Saturday and will continue until the end of the week. About 250 people will attend free classes in gymnastics, fencing, badminton, basketball, deck and table tennis, and various .forms of dancing, which will be held at the Y.W.C.A. to-day. The Y.W.C.A. authorities have also arranged a badminton tournament for to-night. Of interest to boxing enthusiasts will be the opening for the season tonight of the gymnasiums conducted by the Y.M.C.A. and Mr. W. Williams, Avondalo. At the Y.M.C.A. an exhibition of sparring will be given under the direction of the trainer, Mr. D. Cleverley. The Auckland Baseball Association has completed arrangements for giving coaching demonstrations in various city schools this week. Teams from the Auckland Teachers' Training College will assist with the demonstrations.

About 3000 -will take part in the special parade and march past which will be held at Carlaw Park next Saturday' as a conclusion to the fitness week campaign. The parade will be held in conjunction with the Auckland provincial amateur athletic championships. Representatives of practically every sport played in Auckland will assemble in appropriate sports costume at Blandford Park and will march to CarlaAV Park about 2.30 p.m. At the entrance to the ground they will be joined by about 500 territorials and a detachment of Naval men. As the salute is being taken during the march past by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, machines from the Hobsonville Air Base will fly overhead. , PROCESSION IN ROTORUA MANY ORGANISATIONS COMBINE [by telegraph—own correspondent] ROTORUA, Sunday As an opening for Fitness Week in Rotorua a procession was held yesterday afternoon of representatives of various sports bodies, the Municipal and Caledonian bands, the High School bovs' band. High School cadets and girl pupils, and primary school children, representatives of the Women s Health League, the St. John Ambulance, and the fire brigade. An address on phvsical fitness was given by Dr. M C. Moore, followed by several demonstrations of life-saving methods by two teams from the Whakatane Surf Life-sAving Club.