SYDNEY'S FLANS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 307, 28 December 1935, Page 9

SYDNEY'S FLANS.

For Sesqui-Centenary in Three Years. PREMIER'S KEEN INTEREST. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, December 23. The State Cabinet is alert to the national benefits obtainable by 'proper celebration of Sydney's 150 th anniversary in 1938, and energetic preparations are being begun. Since the recess began, the Premier, Mr. Stevens, has been devoting much time to plans for the celebrations, and these are likely to be discussed at the first Cabinet meeting in the New Year.

Mr. Stevens is taking a keen personal interest in this matter. He believes that it is an issue of first-class importance to ensure that Australia, and particularly New South Wales, gets the utmost world-wide advertisement possible from the occasion.

It is probable that a Minister will be specially appointed to control the preparations. This will involve a certain amount of rearrangement of Cabinet duties, as it is desired' that the Minister for the Sesqui-centenary shall be freed of sufficient of his existing work to enable him to devote the major part of his time to arrangements for the festival. It is understood that the Government will contribute a substantial sum to the cost of the organisation, and that it will sponsor an appeal to private interests to build up a celebrations fund. Estimates and Grant. Estimates are to be drawn up of the total cost likely to be involved, and the State grant will then be fixed in accordance with these. If further money should subsequently be needed, the Government will view a request for it sympathetically.

The Sesqui-centenary Minister will be chairman of a State Celebrations Committee, which will be set up by the Gov. ernment early in the new year. The objec. tive will be to have every interested organisation represented on thiu committee, which will, presumably, incorporate the existing Citizens' Committee.

Much preliminary work has already been accomplished. Mr. Stevens is seized with the necessity of putting preparations in hand sufficiently early. If distinguished visitors, Empire Games stars, and tourists are to be attracted from the other side of the world, early action is essential.

A series of proposals by Mr. Stanley S. Crick is now under consideration by the Government. The Minister for Labour (Mr. Dnnningham) has also made a valuable report on aspects brought to his notice when abroad.

The Premier, too, has been in communication with the vState representative in London (Mr. Heath) on points concerning the celebrations.