WHAT TO DO WITH LEISURE

Putaruru Press, Volume XIV, Issue 681, 2 July 1936, Page 4

WHAT TO DO WITH LEISURE

With the proposed introduction of the shorter ‘working: week into industry people are asked to consider how they are going to spend their ini creased leisure. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. W. E. Parry, surveying what in its way is quite a problem, makes some interesting suggestions by way of guidance. After pointing out that the tendency of mechanised mass production is to make people “ mass-minded,” he urges, as a corrective, forms of recreation which “ encourage the greatest measure of personal initiative and creative ability.” Thus, if during the working week, under modern conditions of accelerated tempo, man is apt to betonre the slave of the machine, he will, in his longer leisure, be able to regain bis freedom as an individual, and industry, according to Mr. Parry, will benefit by the revival of spontaneity and craftsmanship. That of course’ depends on how the leisure is used. If the transition is from mechanised work to mechanised recreation it may well be, as Mr. Parry hints, “at the expense of the physique and health of our people.” The old saying “ It is the pace that kills ” is as true to-day as ever it was, and' if there is to be no relaxation in the tempo of modem life in this new freedom then the gift of more leisure may turn out a delusion and the last state be worse than the first, x x x. —Evening Post.