AKAROA CENTENNIAL

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LXIV, Issue 6578, 20 October 1939, Page 3

AKAROA CENTENNIAL

POSTPONEMENT OP CELEBRATIONS ASRED FOR

Motion carried by One Vote

At Tuesday's meeting ">f the Akaroa Centennial committee the matter of airing the uovornment's permission to postpone the Centenary celebrations until after the war was discussed' at length. It was realised that the re-enactment ■of the landing cf Captain Stanley at Akaroa and the hoisting of the Flag could not now •be carried out by the Navy nor the airival of Coimr.odore Lavaud and the Fiench emigrant?, in the Comte Paris. Opinion was divided on the subject, some "of those present maintaining that if other celebrations wore curried out this coming year the Akaroa function which is a South Island celebration would lose much of its v&lue. Miss E. Le Lievre's motion to ask the Government's permission to postpone the celebrations was carried by 10 votes to nine. Mr P. R. Clirnie wrote that owing to the war it would bo impossible for the Navy to assist with the celebrations at Akaroa in April 1940.

The Mayor reported Mr Riches and he had attended a Centennial meeting in Christchurch. The impression was they they should carry on with the centenary. If they could raise £10,000 the Government would give a grant ol' £2.500 of the amount. At the meeting they asked if money raised could be set aside until after the war and it was decided the Provincial centre would ask the central committee about this point.

lii answer to Miss E. Le Lievre the Mayor said it was not known whether the Government was carrying out the National celebrations at Akaroa. They had engaged to take charge of two days and one day for the Maoris. Mrs W. Jacoi-fcon spoke in favour of going on with the celebrations. Mr W. Newton said many people considered that the money to be spent in celebrations could be used to better purpose now that they were at war. Miss E. Le Lievre moved that the Government's permission be asked to postpone the celebrations. The" May or said personally he believed in postponing the celebrations. They could meet annually and'-post-pone the celebrations until the war was over. Mr W. Jacohsou suggested that members of thi j Department of Internal Affairs be asked to visit Akaroa and explain the Government's intentions. Certainly if the war was going on it would be very difficult to hold the celebrations in a fitting manner. He moved that the meeting get Mr Mulligan down arid ask him to explain ] the position.

Mr R. Bruce said that while the war was on people would not be ready to take part in the celebrations aria the carrying on would not help the war.

Miss E. Le Lievre moved that the committee' ask permission from the Government-to'postpone the celebrations for 12 months and state that in no way would they lose interest in the'centenary; seconded by Mrs W. A, Newton.

Hr W. Jacobson spoke against the .motion. Akaroa was to be the centre for the South Isiand celebrations arid it looked as though they did not-want ..to .carry on. He-..was quite in favour oi- postponement if all other celebrations were postponed, but they should not stop if others went on. Father O'Meeghan. quite agreed that if the centenary celebrations were carried on elsev'here the Akaroa one should go on. The arrival of the Fiench settlers at Akaroa in 1840 was an historical event which should not be overlooked. If the celebrations were postponed from year to year the interest must decline and they should not stop now when so much had been done. They should go on even at the risk of having to curtail the celebrations. It would be far better 'to keep up the interest than to' -let the celebrations be put off. |-' -Sir Ef Gait said he could not see why the''Government could not let them carry out the celebrations more fully at a '-later date. I'' '• Dr.. Edginton said that while he understood which prompted thevn to' ask 'for a postponement Of ;the celebrations he felt v that it would be a mistake to fall out of step with other centres. "If other cehtres' were carrying on they should continue with their preparations. Mr P. G. fiiches said that he was opposed to the motion. The Government- had' stated definitely they they: wanted all centres to carry on. They would have-to go on,' though they would Have to curtail tlie celebrationsThe public wais still overcome by the advtiiif of war,- but' the,y could not stop' everything. He was against the motion. The committee was still receiving ' letters : from bid settlers' in other parts of the Dominion who wanted to attend the .celebrations. In : some cases postponement would mean that old friends wotild pass away bel fore the celebrations were held. He btelieVed ' .in .. asking' Mr: Mulligan to come -down. H r e had offered - to attend a at Akaro'av .-/i' * ' • The voting was' nine foi* arid nine against ' and the' chairman voted in favour, of the motion which-was; therefore Carried;" " ••< v.;