SPORTS COUNCIL APPOINTED

Southland Times, Issue 23497, 2 May 1938, Page 8

SPORTS COUNCIL APPOINTED

Personnel Named By Minister MR R. T. MEREDITH TO BE A MEMBER SPECIAL ATTENTION TO COUNTRY DISTRICTS (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 1. The personnel of the National Council of Physical Welfare and Recreation, appointed under the legislation passed by Parliament last year, was announced on Saturday by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry). It is to consist of the following official representation: The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) chairman. The Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs (Mr J. W. Heenan, C.8.E.) de-puty-chairman. The Director-General of Health (Dr M. H. Watt). The Director of Education (Mr N. T. Lambourne). One other officer is yet to be appointed by the Minister of Defence to represent the naval, military and air forces of New Zealand.

The representatives of sports bodies are:— i

DR T. HAROLD PETTIT, Auckland. MISS AGNES KENNEDY, Auckland. MR L. J. BRAKE, Whangarei. MR W. H. MOYES, New Plymouth. MISS K. McKENZIE, Napier. DR C. E. HERCUS, Dunedin. MR R. T. MEREDITH, Invercargill. MR FRED C. DUNN, Christchurch., MR A. C. KITTO, Wellington. MRS R. S. McINNES, Wellington. MR C. F. SCHADICK, Westport. MR M. H. WILKS, Taumarunui.

“An important and essential stage in bringing into effect Parliament’s legislation has now been reached,” said Mr Parry. “I am certain that the men .and women selected to administer the Act will quickly gather in their work the confidence of public sports bodies and participants in all forms of sport and

recreation. I should have relished power to recommend the Government to appoint the bulk of the applicants, so admirable were their experience for the work lying ahead, knowledge and all-round capabilities for membership. The members of the council are chosen not so much for their connection with any particular spefrt as for their ability to give service to sport and recreation as a whole.”

Emphasis was laid by the Minister on the appointments to be made of district committees to serve the council in the needs of the districts represented. “Particularly must the country districts be looked after,” Mr Parry said. “Too often in the past have country districts been neglected in the making of provision for recreational facilities. The council will apply itself to the creation of centres where most forms of sport and recreation can be given full swav. In these centres the committees’ work will be valuable and doubly valuable when the council makes its survey which will be its first function.” The council was in an advisory capacity to the Government, said Mr Parry. It would examine all proposals for the increase of facilities for the physical recreation and welfare of the people and its recommendations would go before the Government. The Act provided for the appointment of 10 nonofficial members of the National Council of Physical Welfare and Recreation. Twelve had *'een selected and he expressed the hope that Parliament would be able to see its way to amend the Act giving full powers of membership of the council to the two provisional appointees. The latter, at present, would take their seats at the council meetings but would not. of course, exercise voting powers until Parliament agreed to their appointment. The necessity for 12 instead of 10 unofficial members as the Act stipulated arose from consideration of geographical representation. PRESIDENT OF RUGBY UNION MR MEREDITH’S WORK FOR SPORTS President of the New Zealand Rugby Union for the year which is about to end, RJr R. T. Meredith, Crown solicitor at Invercargill, was also president of the Southland Rugby Union for four years. Mr Meredith has had a long association with amateur sport in Southland. As a member of the Waikiwi Rugby Football Club in 1914 he first secured a seat on the management committee of the Southland Rugby Union, and except for a break of three years, from 1926, he has been a member continuously. He was elected president in 1922 and occupied the office for four years, during which term he was prominent in organizing the union’s finances and liquidating a big liability incurred with the expenditure of £7OOO on the new grandstand at Rugby Park.

While Rugby has occupied the most prominent place in Mr Meredith’s sporting activities there are few sports which have not enjoyed the benefit of his association. He is a past president of the Southland Bowling Centre, the Southland Cricket Association, the Southland Football Association and the Northend Bowling Club. He was one of the founders of the Southland Wrestling Association, and its first president, a member of the Southland Boxing Association, and a member and judge

of the Invercargill Amateur Athletic Association. To the game of cricket in Southland Mr Meredith gave much time and advice in the few years he was actively associated with its administration. A few years ago when the Southland I Cricket Association was reorganized he I consented to accept the office of pre- ■ sident, and in his first year of office he : succeeded in achieving what many before him had failed to establish—the introduction of a professional cricket coach to Southland. FORMER SOUTHLANDER Mrs R. S. Mclnnes was the founder of the New Zealand Girls’ Basketball Association and when living in InverI cargill up to about two years ago she travelled to all parts of the province to see that every small district had its organization, and encouraging the districts to raise money and lay down their own courts. She is also interested in the Girl Guides and the Young Women’s Christian Association of New Zealand. She is New Zealand commissioner of Lone Guides. While in Invercargill Mrs Mclnnes acted as associate for the Women’s Borstal Institution, helping to find positions for the girls when they returned to Invercargill after their period of detention at the institution.

Dr T. Harold Pettit, of Auckland, is a life governor of the Royal Life-Saving Society with a seat on the London executive and is president of the Auckland centre of the society. He is also president of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. Taking a keen interest in the promotion of the leisure-time interests and activities of girls, Miss Agnes Kennedy, has very high educational qualifications. She has played most sports and has been president of the Auck-

land Basketball Association and the Auckland Collegiate Hockey Association.

The Whangarei representative, Mr L. J. Brake, is actively interested in the administration of most sports in North Auckland. His particular interest has been in Rugby. Mr W. H. Moyes, principal of the New Plymouth Boys’ High School, has been active in the administration of swimming, athletics, and Rugby in Taranaki for many years and is at present president of the Taranaki Acclimatization Society.

Miss Kathleen McKenzie is an enthusiast about physical culture and conducts her own classes. Her ability in the organization of several sports has earned high praise. Dr C. E. Hercus 0.8. E., has been dean of the Medical Faculty since March last year. One of the leading medical men in New Zealand he has a keen analytical mind.

Mr F. G. Dunn’s association with sport is also wide. Among the offices he has occupied are those of president of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association and vice-presi-dent of the Christchurch Sports Club. Mr A. C. Kitto has played both Rugby and Association football. He was also a keen athlete and had considerable success as a hurdler. He was one of the first to introduce women to the field of athletics. He is a keen supporter of physical culture and has had more than 30 years as leader and instructor. Mr Kitto has been a member of the New Zealand Olympic and Empire Games Council almost since its inception and was assistant manager of the New Zealand team to the Empire Games in Sydney this year.

Mr C. F. Schadick has had rich experience of sport as he has played against international sides in tennis, hockey and football. He also plays golf on a low handicap and is captain of the Westport Golf Club. With wide experience in both administration and organization, Mr M. H. Wilks is particularly interested in social reform and development. His experience has been enriched by wide travels.