SCHOOL SPORTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20891, 22 November 1937, Page 13

SCHOOL SPORTS

LACK OF PUBLIC INTEREST ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION Regret that parents did not take a practical interest in th? efforts made to provide sports activities for their children was expressed at the annual meeting of the South Canterbury Primary School Sports Association. Mr H. S. Romans presided over a good attendance.

In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, the chairman said that the year had been very successful. Main had won the shield with West runn. rs-up. There was a loss on the rear’s work of £l/1/- but thwas due to the fact that the swimming sports had to be abandoned owing to the epidemic. Mr F. B. Price, who seconded the motion referred to the keen interest that had been t ken by the country schools in the activities during the year. He considered that more support should be forthcoming from parent sports bodies In the district. They had received more help from the Rugby Union during tire year but in his opinion a committee should be set up to confer with the Rugby Union in an endeavour to improve the standard and increase the r 'est in school Rugby. The Association could not expect financial assistance from the Cricket Association, but he thought the parent body might do someth g to help in the provision of wickets. "Public support has been very disappointing,” continued Mr Price. There was more interest in the country centres or in Christchurch or Dunedin where the parents took a keen Interest in the sport of the children and greatly encoura.ed the efforts of Associations.

Mr J. L. Menzies expressed a hope that during the coming year Waimate would be able to provide some material for representative teams. He congratulated the Association on the success of the athletic meeting and praised the organisation and the manner in which the sports had been co-.ducted. It was a great pity that parents did not display more interest in the sporting activities of their children, and he expressed a hope that the coming year would find greater appreciation of the Association's work. The motion was carried.

The election of officers resulted: President, Mr H. C. Romans; vicepresidents, Miss f. Sunaway, Brother Marcellin, Messrs J. L. Bush and J. Stephens; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr W. N. Pickard; committee, Misses P. Broadhurst, Tizard, A. Mcßean. Ferguson and Messrs J. H. Pennycook, G. McDonald Ward, G. E. Cartwright, and F. R. Price; auditor, Mr E. J. Hall; delegate to South Canterbury Rugby Union, Mr E. J. Hall, delegate to South Canterbury Basketball Association, Miss A. Mcßean.

School Football Mr R. Scott suggested that interschool football matches should be played fortnightly instead of weekly, and that the grades should be extended to ■'How more boys to participate.

“The interest is lost if we hold them fortnightly,” said Brother Ma. cellin. Mr Scott moved that four grades be arranged.

The proposal was supported by Mr Price, who contended that more competition would be helpful in improving standard and interest.

The motion was carried and it was also derided that grades one and two be played weekly and grades three and four fortnightly. It was agreed that a sub-committee be set up later to offer to co-operate with the South Canterbury Rugby Union in an erdeavour to stimulate intc est in school football.

During a discussion on the cost of travelling for representative matches a hope was expressed that more assistance would be forthcoming from the Rugby authorities. ’t was stated that through the South Canterbury Union the New Zealand Union had provided £lB/9/for school footballs, but the Association had spent £lB/9/- The South Canterbury Union had given £3/3/towards travelling expenses which had cost the Association £2O.

It was decided on the motion of Mr Price that a swimming sports meeting be held b“ ire the end of the present school year.