PHYSICAL WELFARE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23353, 19 November 1937, Page 7

PHYSICAL WELFARE

DISCUSSION OF THE BILL THIRD READING CARRIED (From Oub Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Nov. 18. After a discussion that lasted two hours, but was never particularly vigorous, the Physical Welfare and Recreation Bill was passed in the House of Representatives to-night. Almost the whole of the debate took place on the short title of the Bill, and when that had been disposed of by means of the closure administered by the Prime Minister (Mr M. J. Savage), the remaining stages occupied little time. Members of the Opposition during the discussion took mild exception to the provision that the members of the National Council of Sport should be anoointed at the pleasure of the Minister of Internal Affairs, and contended that it would be desirable for them to be appointed for a definite period. Mr S. G. Smith (Opposition, New Plymouth) suggested that two women should be appointed to the council to represent women’s sport, and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr A. Hamilton) expressed the opinion that the services of a few good physical culture instructors would have provided a better basis for the scheme than the complex organisation the Bill aimed at setting up.

The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry), Who assured the Opposition that there was nothing restrictive in the Bill, said it aimed to provide facilities for recreation in places where everyone who wished could take advantage of them. He promised that the interests of women’s sports organisations would not be overlooked.