CRUSADE FOR SPORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27043, 30 March 1949, Page 5

CRUSADE FOR SPORT

ENCOURAGEMENT OF ADOLESCENTS SCOPE FOR DEVELOPMENT ‘‘There seems to be great scope for a crusade to develop sport on a greater scale among adolescents,” said Mr C. J. L White, president of the Otago Council of Sport, at the annual meeting last night. He added that he thought every effort should be made to net for sporting bodies those youths and girls who were to be seen walking aimlessly about tjie streets, as this would result in good to themselves in particular and to the community in general. Mr White said that, after attending the meeting of the New Zealand Council in Wellington in November and after inspecting the indoor sports centre there, he had returned wedded to the idea that the ultimate aim of the Council of Sport should be the establishment of a sports centre in the city. , . . . “It may be a long time before a building for this purpose could be obtained or financed,” Mr White said, “ but the sooner we commence to give practical thought to the matter the sooner ultimately we may succeed.” If such a centre were established here, the president said, it should be a simple matter to make it so attractive as to'entice many of the young people off the streets into taking an active part in the sports the council catered for. The important stage at which to try to interest young people in sport appeared to him to be at the moment they finally left school, whether primary or secondary. , Mr White suggested that it might be a matter for consideration by the council to ascertain whether it would be possible to obtain lists of pupils finally leaving school, and to forward to them a brochure with full particulars of the sporting bodies affiliated to the council, and enclosing a circular for them to sign indicating in what spprts they were interested. The associations concerned could then get into communication with those favouring their particular sport, and perhaps admit them to membership at a small subscription for the first couple of years of membership. The present trouble, Mr White added, seemed to be that there was no effective bridging of the gap between school sporting activities and adult associations, and the council would appear to be the appropriate one to undertake such work.