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(iv) The establishment of holiday camps where desirable: (v) The provision of greater opportunities for recreation at tourist resorts: (vi) The improvement of the beaches of New Zealand and encouragement of surfing and swimming: (vii) Co-operation with the New Zealand Council of Sport to encourage sport: (viii) Encouragement of local authorities to equip and maintain community centres: (ix) The publication of up-to-date information on sport and recreation through a magazine, pamphlets, and sports manuals: (x) Extension of the services rendered by District Physical Welfare Officers. Facilities for Workers' Holidays Now that New Zealand's industrial workers have the right to annual holidays with pay—a right long enjoyed by professional and clerical workers—the Government naturally wishes to assure reasonable facilities for a proper enjoyment of such holidays. Long before my wishes found expression in the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act of 1937, I had given much thought to the need of a new deal in physical welfare, in its broadest sense, for persons on the lower grades of income in industrial or other occupations. That matter continues to have my whole-hearted interest, which is shared by an increasing number of earnest workers for human welfare. It came up at the 1938 Conference of the International Labour Office, whose report had this statement: " Holidays with pay, whether prescribed by legislation, specified by collective agreement, awarded by arbitration, or based on custom, are spreading rapidly in many countries, and the number of groups affected is steadily increasing. " The development of holidays with pay raises the problem of the use of their holidays by large numbers of workers with low incomes. Existing holiday facilities were introduced chiefly to meet the needs of those sections of the population whose means are more substantial. The question must therefore be considered whether such facilities are now sufficient and whether they satisfy the special needs of the new type of user. " In order to meet those new needs, experiments and innovations have been made in many countries, and national experience in this field should therefore be compared. " There can be no doubt that combined action is required on behalf of the large groups which have newly become entitled to holidays with pay. To work out the general principles which should govern this combined action and to indicate the methods to be adopted for the solution of the problems connected with a wise use of such holidays is therefore an important task." The Conference made suggestions and recommendations along lines which have already received attention from the Department of Internal Affairs and its associates in the field of recreation, including travel. For this purpose the Department is always in readiness for co-operation with the Group Travel Association and the Tourist and Bailways Departments for the planning and organization of holiday trips whenever the conditions are favourable. Croup Travel The group-travel scheme soon proved itself something far better than mere sightseeing trips. First of all there was the pleasant companionship of the travellers, freed from toil and eager to be humanly interested in one another. They found cheery friendship in places that they visited, and had opportunities to see the various communities' industrial background—whether fanning, manufacturing, timber-milling, or mining. Of course, the journeys took in splendid scenery and healthful recreation in spare hours. Altogether, those travellers were introduced to the real New Zealand —people as well as places. Their sense of country was strengthened by this better understanding; they became better units in the national structure. The experience so far indicates that a big development of group travel can have its very important part in happy nation-building which always needs a strong basis of good understanding and goodwill. Naturally, in this new development, first attention was given to the needs of mothers of large families, eager for a low-cost trip to a refreshing scenic resort, the holiday which had always seemed beyond the family's means. Next came hard-worked wives of farmers, who had well earned the right to a holiday, with change of scene and chats with other women travellers. Then the helping hand of group travel stretched to industrial workers, who were due for a lift from factories and mines to the wide open spaces of health-building enjoyment. There is good reason for a belief that the post-war development of tourist traffic will include extensive organizing of group travel between New Zealand and Australia, with benefit for both countries from various viewpoints. Such interchanges of visits will further strengthen the friendship of the Commonwealth and the Dominion for mutual welfare. Croup Travel Associations. —Just before the war the South Island travel agencies combined to form a Group Travel Association to work in co-operation with the Department of Internal Affaire and the Tourist and Transport services. So successful was the South Island organization that arrangements were made for the Tourist Department to extend a similar service to the North Island. The Group Travel movement is now organized, established, and ready to carry out its part of the programme for national holiday recreation in accordance with the travel facilities available. Holiday Bursary. —For the mothers of large families of ten or more children there has been established a Holiday Bursary, to which members of Group Travel parties have contributed in appreciation of the movement. The fund is kept in district divisions, and
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