ONE HUNDRED YEARS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 41, 28 November 1940, Page 6

ONE HUNDRED YEARS

A CENTENNIAL FILM. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. Produced at the (Government studios at Miramar, New Zealand’s Centennial memorial film, “o,ne Hundred Crowded Years,” received its first screening this morning in the presence of the Gover-nor-General i(Lord Galway), Lady Galway and their daughter, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hop. P. Fraser) and most of the members of Cabinet, Sir Harry Batterbee, and many members of Parliament and leading citizens. The film takes about an hour to screen. There is no crowding and actually the film suggests more than it shows. It excels on the pictorial side and wisely no attempt has been made to interweave into it any consecutive story. Scenes from the past have been recreated and these tell their own story, often silently, but very vividly. There is the Treaty of Waitangi and Captain Hobson negotiating with the Maoris, followed by the life of the pioneers in carving homes from, the hush. A vivid portrayal of the Maoris comes with war. but the southern gold rushes bring other scenes such as the opening up of public 'Forks, wjth railway .and road building and the quick progress of land development, the rise of the freezing industry, and the establishment of the Dominion on primary production.

Here the film ceases to he historical and presents the culmination of the first 100 years, showing the country as it is to-day, its social advancement with the Plunket Society, State housing, and care of the- Maori, with a short dissertation on Maori nrohlems.

The film is to he shown, for patriotic purposes, and the. Hon. Langstons this morning expressed the hope that it would bring in. a good sum. He characterised it- as a. lasting tribute to the pioneers whose beneficiaries we were, and congratulated all concerned on its making.