NATIONAL FITNESS

Southland Times, Issue 24651, 24 January 1942, Page 6

NATIONAL FITNESS

IMPORTANCE EMPHASIZED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, December 23. A fortnight’s refresher course for men and women- physical welfare and recreation officers of the Department of Internal Affairs at Lower Hutt concluded this afternoon with a special demonstration of exercises in training tables for classes of the Home Guard, Air Training Corps, Women’s War Services Auxiliary and other organizations. In congratulating the officers on their performance the Prime Minister, the Rt, Hon. P. Fraser, said it was not possible to overestimate the national importance of physical welfare work. By spreading this movement through the community New Zealanders would be strengthened for all the tasks in war and peace and the foundations would be laid for a still stronger nation. Mr Fraser agreed with the suggestion of the Minister of Internal Affairs that some military camps well supplied with water and sanitary equipment should not be scrapped after the war, but retained for use as health camps and summer schools. It would be a shame to have all the camps pulled down. The Hon. Adam Hamilton, a member of the War Cabinet, concurred. - The Minister of Education, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, said it would be very beneficial to the public if some of the ever-increasing attention given to pUblie Hospitals were diverted to physical welfare work. It was a case of the old proverb that prevention was better than cure. The people of democratic countries, fighting with nations which made physical training a religion, must have the keenest possible practical interest in movements for fitness.