PHYSICAL WELFARE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 274, 18 November 1937, Page 8

PHYSICAL WELFARE

THE GOVERNMENT’S BILL SECOND READING DEBATE [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Nov. 17. The debate on the second reading of the Physical Welfare and Recreation Bill, which was interrupted by the adjournment at 10.30 p.m. on Monday night, was continued in the House of Representatives this evening. • Mr. R. McKeeri (Government, Wellington South) contended that the majority of the members of the House would support the Bill. The measure was on similar lines to the British Act, with the exception that the British legislation provided for two national councils. He thought the same should be done in New Zealand, one council being established in the South Island and one in the North. The assistance of all organisations whose objective was the advancement of the physical welfare of the people should be co-opted, as well as that of various sports bodies. He stressed the importance of teaching young people to swim and the facilities for doing so should be available in all centres. It might be said that schemes for physical welfare had a military objective in countries like Italy and Germany, but there were other countries such as the Scandinavian nations where similar schemes were in operation and no military objectives were intended. Mr. McKeon said the wholehearted co-opera-tion of local bodies was necessary and funds should be given them to enable them to assist the Minister and enable the objectives of the proposals in the Bill to be carried out. An Opposition View.

Mr. S. G. Holland (Opp., Christchurch North) said that any measure which had as its objective the promotion of the physical welfare of the people must receive the recommendation of all right-thinking people, but he would point out that the Bill did not stipulate any definite sum for expenditure on the attainment of its objectives. New Zealand, he said, required more sports grounds, more gymnasiums and more swimming baths. There was also a need for more good instructors. There was a fear in the minds of many people that the Government would interfere in sport and that was justified because the true Socialist always believed that the Government could manage anything better than the individual. Hon. J. A. Lee: There are sports where the Government does inter-fere—bull-fighting and bear-baiting. Mr. Holland: Bull-fighting is not physical culture. A Member: There is plenty of exercise in it. Mr. Holland: You try it and you’ll be the one to get the exercise. In conclusion, Mr. Holland urged the Minister when he was considering the appointment of a Director of Physical Culture, not to overlook the claims of Mr. Jack Lovelock, the New Zealand track champion. Care in Expenditure Mr. Wright said he thought the Minister had started out very well indeed, but he urged caution in authorising the expenditure of money by voluntary organisations. The question of cost must not be overlooked, particularly where it was unlimited cost. These voluntary bodies should not be authorised to spend money without the consent of the Council of Sporr, otherwise the Minister might find himself seriously em« barrassed. He hoped the question of physical education of children would not be overlooked. With reference to the powers given by the Bill to local bodies to raise money without loan polls for the provision of sports facilities, he considered it would lead to great pressure being brought on local bodies and might tend to increase their expenditure to a dangerous degree. Mr. C. H. Chapman (Government, Wellington North) said he thought that Mr. Holland was a trifle ungenerous in saying that he feared the Government might control sport. There was nothing whatever in the Bill to give this idea. The Bill was merely to encourage physical welfare and sport. He thought the Bill would give an opportunity for the encouragement of sport which had never been enjoyed before. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. W. E. Pari y, in reply, said there was no idea of compulsion in the Bill at all. Once compulsion came into it sport would cease to be a recreation at all. Referring to the powers given .he Minister under the Bill, which had been referred to by Col. Hargest, Mr. Parry stated that the measure gave him no greater power than had been given the Minister in the English Act with which Mr. Hargest had unfavourably compared the Bill. The question of two Sports Councils had been mentioned, but in a country the size of New Zealand he could not see the necessity for this provision. The National Council would be made as thoroughly representative of the Whole Dominion as possible and committees would be set up in the different districts of New Zealand to attend to the special requirements of those districts. The Bill, said the Minister, mostly concerned the men and women of the country and not so much the children, because the latter would be provided for by the Education Department. The Bill was read a second time and the House rose at 10 p.m.