PHYSICAL FITNESS
By CAPTAIN V. A. CAZALET, M.P.
In Russia, Germany and Italy the dictators have given their people something which takes the place of liberty— and something which apparently compensates for the lack of material well-being. One hardly likes to apply the adjective " spiritual " to anything associated with the Nazi or Soviet regimes, but undeniably both peoples behave as though " inspired." No one who has seen a gathering of youths in either Germany or Russia can fail. to notice that something which is to them very real and vital has taken hold of their minds, and their hearts as well. The proof is in what they. are willing to do, and the sacrifices they are prepared to make. They spend their holidays in labour camps digging trenches or doing some other manual labour, learning to shoot, to become parachute-jumpers—in other words, to make their bodies strong, hardy and efficient, so that they may be useful in some capacity to serve the State.
This is not the place to discuss the political or moral aspects of the problem ; but, however much we may criticise and deplore certain features of it, the fact remains that a great body of young men and women in the totalitarian States are rapidly making themselves into citizens of Al physique. There is a real drive to make physical fitness a national ideal. Anyone who visited the Olympic Games must have noticed both the improved physique of the German youths and their changed attitude towards games and sports.
What about ourselves ? We talk often and loudly about liberty and democracy. Lip-service is paid to those ideals by Conservative, Liberal and Socialist alike. We genuinely believe in them and are equally convinced they are not only the best form of government but essential to the happiness and progress of our own country. But what are we doing to uphold them ? It is quite true that our navy and our air force are daily becoming more efficient, but rearmament is only one side of the defence problem, and the efficiency of our Services must in the long run depend upon the physical fitness of the nation as a whole. How do we compare in this respect with continental countries ?
We put a very high value on sport. We pride ourselves on our love of games " for the sake of the game " and for the team spirit they inculcate. " Fair play " and " play- ing the game," we like to think, are natural corollaries of the word " English." Is all this helping to make us an Al nation ? I wonder how many people who watch football, or other games, pay any attention to their own physique.
I do not believe that this country would ever accept physical training on a compulsory basis, bit I am con- vinced that a great deal more can be done to encourage and stimulate interest in it. While the Government can always give a lead and a helping hand, in a democratic country it must always be the individual who " puts it over." Here at least is one sphere of usefulness in which the individual can make his contribution towards the preservation of those ideals in which he so firmly believes.
It is always easier to make a general proposal than to offer concrete suggestions for putting it into effect, but here are a few. Additional grants should be given to local authorities to provide adequate playing fields for clubs, schools, •&e. The curriculum of- all schools— elementary, public and private—should include a far greater proportion, of, gymnastics. More colleges for the scientific training of physical culture instructors should be started and, if necessary, assisted by Government (mutts. 'There are, of course, some excellent establish- ments of this kind already in existence, and no doubt much valuable research work has already been done. but I think it should be made possible for every_ school in the country to have the services of a trained instructor at least one day a week, and parents might well insist on this when choosing a school for their children. The 'idea that " gym " must necessarily be a dull or tiresome hour, and that it consists solely of a few drill-like motions, automatically performed, is quite a wrong interpretation of what should be a mental as much as a physical exercise. The psychological aspect is no less important than the material, which only goes to show how necessary it is to have well-qualified instructors.
In the field of industry there is still a great deal more. that employers might do to improve the physique of their workers. From recent announcements by the Govern- ment it is obvious that they intend t9 expedite all-too-long- . delayed action in this matter. Also the B.B.C. could be utilised a great deal more than it has been in the past for the encouragement of a higher standard of physical fitness throughout the country. But even if the Govern- ment, the Press, the B.B.C. and employers were all to combine in stimulating interest., the solution still depends on the willingness of the individual citizen to play his part.
The German and Russian peoples wish to serve their State. They want to get fit. The impulse comes as much from themselves as it does from the political party. It seems to me that the efforts and sacrifices inspired by our own ideals should not be less than those which the dictators of Europe have evoked from their peoples. We have, many of us believe, a better system to maintain and a greater heritage to protect.
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