"FLOP" ALLEGED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19893, 22 March 1939, Page 4

"FLOP" ALLEGED

FITNESS CAMPAIGN COUNCILLOR'S CRITICISM DEFENCE BY MAYOR BOROUGH COUNCIL DUEL An assertion by Cr. H. H. DeCosta at last night's meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council that the physical fitness week in Gisborne was the "biggest flop" the town had seen for a long time marked the commencement of a brief "duel" between him and the Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., who entered into a spirited 'defence of those who worked in the local campaign. Congratulations to the Mayor and all associated with him in the efficiency displayed in connection with the physical fitness week campaign were extended by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, in a letter read at last night's meeting. The Minister added that he would appreciate suggestions for the future development of the work.

"If Mr. Parry had come to Gisborne and seen the celebrations,here, he would have been disgusted," Cr. DeCosta declared. "They were the biggest flop enacted here for a long time The public was enticed along to see boxing and wrestling which did not come off.

"Here the fitness week came and went, and who benefited? Nobody. Those who went into the fitness'campaign were all fit men. In Napier it might have been a success. I think it was. But in Gisborne the people never assisted. I do not blame the Government. I think the Government was trying to do its best. But the people did not respond."

"A Very Great Success"

The Mayor: That comes very badly from one who did not participate. I disagree entirely with Cr. DeCosta's remarks regarding fitness week in Gisborne. I think it was a very great success. One item on,the last night, the wrestling, w?as cutl out through unavoidable circumstances, but otherwise the programme went ahead as planned.

"I appreciate very much" the Mayor added, "the assistance of those who worked to make the week the success it was, and criticism comes very badly from a councillor who did not help in any way to make the week a success. Meetings were arranged, committees set up and volunteers asked for, and for those who did not do a hand's turn to come along with such carping criticism comes very badly indeed." Cr. DeCosta: The whole town is talking about it.

The Mayor: Well, I have not heard it. I know the people of Gisborne are hard to get out to a demonstration, but the Thirty-thousand Club and'other organisations working along those lines are doing their best to encourage the public to abandon themselves on such an occasion. From the point of view of physical fitness, apart from the frivolity that entered into it, I am very pleased with the , success of it, and Gisborne will benefit by helping to keep the people lit. - . " •

Workers Congratulated

"I am sorry to hear criticism from, a councillor of those who worked so hard. I dissociate myself with that criticism, and I think those who took part in making the week the success it was should be congrlatulated and thanked for their efforts." Cr. DeCosta: I want to say, and I say it with all sincerity, that those who turned out during fitness week were all very fit people, and if you can, tell of anyone who benefited by it. The Mayor: It was for those who were fit to turn out as an example to the others. Cr. DeCosta: Mr. Parry asks for criticism. The Mayor: .You can hardly give it, because you did not /take part. Cr. DeCosta: Anything I have taken part in has been a success. Only A Beginning Cr. H. E. Maude remarked that this year's fitness campaign was only a beginning, and would work up to further importance in the future. Cr. A. L. Singer said that the, suggestions asked for would come better from the district committee appointed. The Mayor said that the first j<-' of the district committee would be to make a survey of the sports grounds available. Cr. R. Morse, as one of the committee, said that there would be a wealth of suggestions going forward. He did not think Cr. DeCosta's remarks, coming at present, were warranted. Many people did" a great deal of work for the campaign, including a number of ladies who did an immense amount of work of which most people know nothing.

Cr. Maude believed there was ample scope for the work in the right direction. The beginning was only a small one, but it would grow. The discussion then lapsed.