HAPPY LIVING

Southland Times, Issue 23946, 12 October 1939, Page 9

HAPPY LIVING

HELPFUL RECREATION New Zealand is only one of many countries where public-spirited men and women are striving with cheerful earnestness to widen the opportunities for happy life among all the people (says a statement issued by the Department of Internal Affairs). “All over America the search for the good life goes on,” says “Recreation” (the magazine published by the National Recreation Association). “Food and shelter—yes. But that is only the beginning of life. What comes after is living. Fortunately for many people in our nation this chance to live is being realized. Public-spirited citizens are giving time freely on boards and commissions whose tasks are to provide for richer living. Hundreds of progressive communities, urban and rural, have employed trained leaders to make this provision more effective and far-reach-ing. Public officials are appropriating funds and individuals are giving lands and buildings. Committees are working, groups are studying, schools are training for leisure. Special needs of boys and girls are being faced. Human skills that are the heritage of the ages—music, drama, arts and crafts, sports, games, gardening—are being made available.”

Honorary service of many citizens throughout the Dominion, in co-opera-tion with the Physical Welfare and Recreation Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs, is helping New Zealand to catch up to the excellent standard of progress achieved in America, where the movement for the “new life” began well some years ago.