COUNCIL OF SPORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 275, 19 November 1937, Page 8

COUNCIL OF SPORT

BILL PASSES THE HOUSE VARIOUS ASPECTS DEBATED [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Nov. IS. During the committee stages of the Physical Welfare and Recreation Bill, Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opp., Waitomo) said that sports bodies were looking forward to an announcement by the Minister on the question cl grants. The Minister or Interna! Affairs (Hoi.. W. E. Parry) replied that ,t was impossible until a survey had been made. Mi. W. A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago) expressed the opinion that the Government should make a survey of the position as far as ihild life was concerned. That should ue the point of commencement in the campaign. Mr. S. G. Holland ' Opposition, Christchurch North! asked for what period did the Minister intend to appoint members of the Sports Council and how long would their term of office last? He reiterated his plea that the Minister should not overlock Mr. Jack Lovelock when appointing a Director of Physical Welfare. Mr. J. A. Lee (Government, Grey Lynn) said that wherever it was possible they must attempt to capture the mind of the people as well as the muscles. They did not want to develop large muscles at the expense of disintegrated intellects. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment at 5.30 p.m. Size of Sports Council The House continued the discussion When it resumed at 7.30. The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (Opposition, Hurunui) said he thought they would get much better work if the Sports Council were much smaller. They would certainly get along much faster. Mr. J. Hargest (Opposition, Awarua) said he did not think the Minister could do better than collaborate with the Minister of Education and start his scheme for physical welfare in the schools. He expressed a fear that the Sports Council which had been set up would have no power at all. The Minister of Education (Hon. P. Fraser) assured the House that Mr. Parry and he had been in the closest collaboration on the measure, and the whole question, not only of the physical education of the children but their health, and matters of hygiene, sunshine and fresh air, would receive consideration.

Mr. K. J. Holyoake (Opposition Motueka) suggested that live of the members of the Council of Sport should retire each year when fresh members would be elected to fill the vacancies created. He did not think the council members should be appointed for the duration of the Minister’s pleasure. Mr. S. G. Smith (Opp., New Plymouth) asked the Minister to reconsider the appointment of the Director of Education and Director General of Health to the Sports Council. Both these men were administering large departments, and he considered they could be far too busy to cake part in the activities of the council. He asked the Minister to consider the appointment of two women i epresenting women’s sport to the council. The Hon. W. E. Parry: We already have had women representing women’s sport on the Advisorv Committee. Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Opp., Central Otago) advocated that organisations identified with the welfare of the youth of the country should have representation on the Sports Council. Mr. H. Atmore (Indept., Nelson) congratulated the Minister and the Government on bringing the measure forward, but directed attention to the necessity for a proper supply of nutritive foods for children in order to provide an adequate basis on which the scheme could be built up. Would the Bill be Restrictive? The Leader of the Opposition (Hon. Adam Hamilton) expressed an opinion that the appointment of a few good physical instructors would have provided a better basis for the scheme than a huge organisation which the Bill aimed at setting up. He asked what the Minister had in mind in connection with the proposal to set up district committees. " Freedom of organising our own sport had been a great blessing to the Dominion. Would district committees control the sports m their respective areas? If they did then the measure must be restrictive, because those district committees must have a certain authority. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) said it was very regrettable that the Opposition should attempt to create an atmosphere of rear that the Bill would be restrictive Tne people could go out and play as they liked. It merely aimed at setting up facilities for recreation in central positions where everyone who wished would have access to them. Referring to Mr. Smith’s suggestion that the Director of Education and tne Director General of Health should not be members of the committee. Mr. Parry said that both these men were very enthusiastic about the work of the committee and he thought it only right that the two departments most concerned should be represented. The question of the appointment of women to the council would not be forgotten. He did not think the council could be truly representative unless women’s interests were looked after. In reply to a question by Mr. Hargest, the Minister said it was true that the public would have to pay for the Bill, but he was sure they would not object to paying for physical wellbeing and good health. It woiad be impossible lor him to say what the total cost would be until there was a survey of the requirements for the first years. However, he did not think the cost would be so great. He assured tne House that he would move as soon as he possibly could to have the job started. The Closure Applied The short title was passed after the Prime Minister had applied the closure. The remaining clauses of the Bill were passed unamended and the Bill was read a third time,