RECREATION WEEK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 September 1939, Page 6

RECREATION WEEK

CELEBRATION IN MASTERTON EFFORT COMMENDED BY MAYOR. PUBLIC’S SUPPORT SOLICITED. “Towards the end of July the Minister for Internal Affairs, as the Minister responsible for the administration of the new Physical Welfare and Recreation Act. expressed a wish that a Recreation week should be undertaken throughout the Dominion.” stated Mr T. Jordan, mayor of Masterton, in an interview this morning. "It will be remembered that dt his request a Keep Fit Week was held in February last, the object being to direct the mind of the public to the opportunity and the need for improving the physical and mental well-being of the community. Here in Masterton it led to a conspicuously successful outdoor display. On this occasion the object is to draw attention more to the cultural side of the welfare of the people. In addition there was in the Minister’s mind the approaching Centennial of the Dominion when local and national celebrations will be held throughout New Zealand to signalise the completion of the first hundred years of our existence and this recreation week would provide a suitable opportunity for a preliminary , survey of the resources available for such celebrations. Since the Minister expressed his wish, the outbreak of war has furnished us with an additional r&ison for proceeding with our effort. It w’ill give us temporary distraction, at least, from the strain and anxiety of the moment, and to that extent serve as a useful mental and physical tonic to us all. “So much by way of preamble. “The committee has arranged a varied programme of outdoor and indoor recreation, providing physical and cultural demonstrations that should appeal to the public and we should like to express our thanks to individual and group performers for their assistance to this end. In many cases it has involved considerable expense and personal inconvenience. We value that as a further demonstration of a very desirable public spirit in days such as these. It now remains for citizens, young and old to second the committee’s and the performers’ efforts and to derive the maximum benefit from the splendid fare that will be offered to them during the week commencing on Saturday next. During the Keep Fit Week in February, no charge was made to the public for the entertainment provided. This time the committee was of opinion that a small uniform charge for each event would cover.the out of pocket expenses and any balance form the nucleus of a fund for emergency purposes, but I should like to make it plain that these entertainments are in no sense a scheme to raise money for a war fund. We want to see the public in maximum numbers enjoy what we set before them, and we are sure they will benefit for a week at least. Thanks to the generosity of the Trust Lands Trust the Opera House has been made available to us free of charge.”