PHYSICAL WELFARE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 255, 27 October 1937, Page 8

PHYSICAL WELFARE

GOVERNMENT SCHEME National Council of Health MINISTER EXPLAINS BILL [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Oct. 26. The groundwork for a national scheme of physical development and sports organisation is laid down in the Physical Welfare and Recreation Bill, which was introduced in x the House of Representatives to-day by Governor-General’s message. The Bill embodies the general proposals which the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, has discussed with sports bodies during the last few months. The organisation of the Government’s scheme is to be entrusted to the National Council cf Physical Welfare and Recreation, which is to be established under the Bill. It will consist of the Minister of Internal Affairs as chairman, the Under-Secre-tary of Internal Affairs as deputychairman, the Director-General of Health, the Director of Education, one person representing the naval, military and air services of the Dominion, to be appointed by the Minister of Defence, and not more than ten other persons appointed by the Minister oi Internal Affairs, to hold office during his pleasure. Members of the Council other than the Minister and Government officers are to be paid travelling expenses and allowances. The Council is given power to appoint committees to assist it in its duties, and in this respect there is provision for making use of the services of co-opted members. The general function of the Council as set out in the Bill will be to advise the Government on matters relating to the maintenance and improvement of the physical well-being of the people by means of physical training, exercise, sport and recreation, together with related social activities, and to make from time to time such investigations and inquiries as may be necessary for that purpose. The particular functions will be to review existing facilities for physical training and recreation, to make recommendations regarding the need for new or additional facilities, and the manner in which they should be provided, to examine and consider proposals and applications fc-r grants, and to disseminate information regarding the national value of its objectives.

The Minister is to be given power to define districts for the detailed organisation of the scheme and to appoint district committees which will work under the control and direction of the Council. Grants Empowered Another section of the Bill empowers the Minister to make grants cut of moneys appropriated by Parliament to local authorities and voluntary organisations for the purpose of providing or aiding in the provision of physical and recreational facilities. These facilities are regarded as including gymnasiums, playing fields, swimming baths, bathing places, holiday camps, camping sites and buildings required by organisations interested in physical training and sport. Grants can also be made toward the expenses of a local authority or a voluntary organisation in respect of the training and supply of instructors and leaders and toward the general or specific funds of any voluntary organisation. The Minister may make these grants subject to any conditions which he thinks fit to impose. Local authorities are authorised to spend moneys on facilities and equipment and on the provision of centres for physical training and sport, and their activities in this direction are to be regarded as public works within the meaning of the Public Works Act. These facilities or centres may be managed either by the local authority itself or handed over to a voluntary organisation, and local bodies are also empowered to make grants toward the work of such voluntary organisations. For the purpose of providing the necessary facilities in their particular districts, local bodies arc to be permitted to raise loans by special order without polls of ratepayers. Commissions of inquiry may be appointed to assist the Council in any matter bearing on its activities, and the Bill also provides for the appointment of a physical welfare adviser and such other officers as may be considered necessary. The usual provisions regarding the presentation of an annual report and the making of regulations by Order-in-Council are included in the Bill. State of Development. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, introducing the Bill, said there was a movement all over the world in connection with the physical fitness of the human race. The Bill could not be other than a short measure because the whole problem was merely in a stage of development. In fact, it provided a foundation for the development of a very important work in this country. He stressed the relationship of the Bill to education, defence and health, and said that though there was provision for the appointment

of various people interested in sport to the council those appointments did not carry the definite representation of any particular sport on that council. The Bill also made provision for the building up of subsidiary committees in other parts of the country, and for district organisations for the control and organisation of sport and recreation in country districts. One of the first duties of the National Council, said Mr. Parry, would be to make a survey of the requirements necessary for pulling the Government’s scheme into operation. Until this survey was made it was not known what the cost would be. The C-u\ ernment intended to apportion the money available to different parts of New Zealand, and would not give all of it to one particular area. It would be the duty of the council to make recommendations to the Government for its consideration, and the Bill provided for grants to sport from local bodies. The Bill’s objective was to develop the physical fitness of the people, not to develop champions, and under its previsions local bodies would be able to assist in every way and would be able to borrow' money to help in carrying out the Bill’s objectives. Dealing with Clause 14 which gives power to set up commissions to conduct investigations, Mr. Parry said the Government had to be very careful In the steps it was proposed to take, because the scheme was an entirely new departure. Col. Hargest: Is there ary compulsion? Mr. Parry: No. There is no inter*tion of compt kion what ? 'er. The Minister continued that he had emphasised in previous speeches tha 1 there would be no idea of compjlsi.F' nor of regimentation of sport. In answer tc a question by Mr. S. G. Smith, Mr. Parry said the IJiii or.ly set out that local bodies had power to vote sums for sport. They already possessed that power. All the Government was asking was that local bodies should co-operate. The necessary money for putting the scheme into operation would be appropriated by Parliament. The Government wr not asking them to do more in New Zealand than was being done in other countries. The Bill was read for the first time.