Sport And Recreation Subsidies Committee To Make... (Press, 23 November 1973)

On 23 November 1973, a meeting in Christchurch attended by 150 sports and recreation delegates resulted in the formation of a committee tasked with making recommendations to the government regarding subsidies for local organisations. The committee, consisting of seven members, was appointed by the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr N. G. Pickering, who also took part in the committee himself alongside Crs R. M. MacFarlane and W. V. Cowles. Representatives were chosen from various sectors, including two for active sports and two for passive recreation. Dr T. D. R. Anderson, from the Sports Medicine Foundation, and Mr S. Lewis, a director of physical education at the University of Canterbury, were elected to represent active sports. The representatives for passive recreation were Dr C. G. Riley, vice-president of the Aged People’s Welfare Council, and Mrs H. Holmes from the Arts Festival Committee. During the meeting, Mr Pickering announced that organisations in the Christchurch area could apply for a total of $101,280 available for “properly constituted voluntary bodies.” Applications needed to be submitted to the committee by 10 December, and each project could receive up to $30,000. However, if the subsidy funds were not fully utilised, they would not roll over to the next year. Delegates sought clarification on the definition of recreation, which Mr Pickering interpreted broadly, indicating that it encompassed any activity promoting well-being. He even cited the purchase of a television for an aged care facility as a valid example of recreational enhancement. A point of discussion arose from a delegate from Sisters for Homosexual Equality regarding the expansiveness of the definition of recreation, to which Mr Pickering indicated that it would depend on interpretation. Mr Lewis brought attention to the need for some of the fund to be allocated for a survey to assess the community’s recreational and sporting needs, suggesting that not all funds should be disbursed immediately. He referenced the practice in Britain where long-term plans for recreational needs are based on thorough assessments. Mr Pickering concurred on the necessity of conducting such surveys and expressed his hope that the committee would adopt a broad and liberal perspective when reviewing applications. The meeting included representatives from a range of organisations, reflecting diverse interests in sports and recreation in Christchurch. Some of the groups represented were the Boys’ Brigade, the Crippled Children Society, Risingholme Community Centre, the New Zealand Alpine Club, and the Canterbury Chess Club.

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