PHYSICAL WELFARE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23352, 18 November 1937, Page 9

PHYSICAL WELFARE

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF SPORT SECOND READING OF BILL LITTLE INTEREST IN DEBATE (From Our Parliamentary Reporter! WELLINGTON, Nov. 17. The Physical Welfare and Recreation Bill, which provides for the setting up of a National Council of Sport and is designed generally to produce a fitter race of New Zealanders, was read a second time in the House of Representatives tonight There was not a great deal o f interest in the debate, which occupied the whole of the evening sitting of the House, and there was little criticism except on points of detail.

“A movement such as this Bill is designed to institute should be commenced in the schools, if not earlier,” said Mr R McKeen (Govt., Wellington South). Mr McKeen expressed the opinion that there should be a council of sport in the North Island and another in the South Island, and urged that every inducement should be given to sports bodies to encourage the greatest number of people to leave the “bank” and take part in games. Swimming should be a compulsory subject in the schools and facilities should be provided all over the country for swimming to oe taught The whole-hearted co-operation or local bodies must be obtained, and they should receive financial assistance to enable them to play an effective part in helping the Government in its campaign for a fitter nation. Mr S. G. Holland (Opposition, Christchurch North) said he hoped the Minister would make provision for the appointment of more than one council. Personally, he would like to see a council for the North Island and another for the South Island. There was something missing in the Bill in that it gave no indication whether the scheme would cost £50,000 or £IOO,OOO. He had looked forward to a plan that would encourage youths to leave the grandstand and take an active part in sport, but the new legislation did little more than make provision for an investigation. It provided only a framework. Mr Holland said that political interference with any form of sport would not be tolerated by virile New Zealanders. He hoped that when appointing a director of physical culture the Government would give consideration to Mr J. Lovelock, the brilliant New Zealand athlete. Loan Provision Criticised The clause in the Bill authorising local authorities to borrow money for the purposes of recreation without taking a poll of the ratepayers concerned was criticised by Mr R. A. Wright (Ind., Wellington Suburbs). Great pressure, he said, would be exerted on local bodies to raise loans for all sorts of recreational purposes, and too often they would give way. “ If we are to have an A 1 people, the foundation of physical welfare must be laid in childhood,” Mr Wright continued. “We are just beginning to discover the important part that diet plays in the health of the people. At one time it was always medicine that was prescribed for iil-health, but nowadays a medical man first ascertains if anything can be done for his patient by way of diet.” Other speakers were Mr J. B. Cotterill (Govt., Wanganui) and Mr C. H. Chapman (Govt.. ■ Wellington North). No Compulsion

“ The moment that compulsion is applied to recreation it ceases to be recreation,” said the Minister of Interna] Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry) when replying to the debate. The Minister said it was unfortunate that some members of the Opposition had suggested that there was any compulsion implied in the Bill, because that was not so The powers it gave were the same as those contained in the recently-enacted English legislation, and it was ridiculous to suggest that persons were to be compelled to take part in sport against their wish. The Bill contained no element of compulsion “ It has been suggested that there should be a Council of Sport for each island,” Mr Parry continued. “ That question was considered closely, but in my opinion there is no need in a country of only a million and a-half peoole for more than one council The National Council will represent as nearly as possible the country in general and to split it up into two sections would mean unnecessary duplication and expense. It will appoint committees and subsidiary committees to investigate local conditions.”

The Interests of Adults The Bill was concerned mostly with the men and women of the country, the Minister added, and not so much with the children, because they were under the Educa tion Department. The Minister of Education (Mr Fraser) was already making provision for their physical well-being. In conclusion, Mr Parry said he looked forward to the day when as a result of the machinery created by the Bill there would be hostels throughout the country where trampers and others co ild bo accommodated and when arrangements would be made for the people of New Zealand to get to know their own country The Bill was read a second time without a division.