COMPULSION SUGGESTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 27, 3 February 1939, Page 6

COMPULSION SUGGESTED

‘PROPOSALS INADEQUATE" NO SUPPORT FOR RESOLUTION The opinion that the provisions of National Fitness Week were inadequate in that they did not make provision for those people who were deficient in physique was made by Mr. A. N. Campbell at last night’s public meeting in the City Council Chambers, when he suggested that physical training should be made compulsory on the same lines as the old compulsory military training. The suggestion, however, did not meet with the approval and the following resolution moved by Mr. Campbell failed to draw a seconder: “That the feeling of this meeting is that the suggestions for the conduct of Physical Fitness Week are inadequate as they do not involve a great number of young men and women who are greatly deficient in their physique and that it is of the opinion that the Government should legislate for compulsory physical training on similar lines to the compulsory military training in vogue In New Zealand up to several years ago.” In moving the resolution, Mr. Campbell said that the suggested programme catered only for those who took an interest in sport. He thought that the proposals did not go far enough and considered that the only way of remedying the position was through compulsory physical training. Mr. R. J. McDonald, president of the Wanganui Rowing Association, said he did not think that anything of a compulsory nature should be introduced during the first year of the campaign, this year the committee could not hope to recruit those who were not trained, the main purpose of this year’s campaign being to show what the trained body could accomplish. Other speakers expressed opposition to any hint of compulsion and the resolution was not proceeded with.