N.Z. CENTENNIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 65, 18 March 1938, Page 14

N.Z. CENTENNIAL.

AUCKLAND PROGRESS. PRAISE FOR EXECUTIVE. "PATTERN FOR AIL OTHERS." Tt seemed that Auckland. in her pre!'iirnti«>iirs for tho centennial. Mould bp a pattern fur ;ill otlicr <1 irJvrirts, said Mr. A. W . Mulligan. general seeretary (if tlie National ('cnteiinial (.'urn mil tee. when lie ••iddrf'ssi'tl members of the permanent seerctariat of the Met ropol it a n Kxecutive of the Auckland Provincial Centennial I ouncil at a meeting last night. "T nrn here ns an olwerver for the < lovernnient," Mr. Mulligan continued, "and I have been greatly impressed by the organisation which has been set n|> in Auckland. The Minister of Internal Affairs has made it quite (dear that the centennial is regarded by the liovernment as a very important event in our national history—as an aesthetic and utilitarian memorial fur those who follow us in the next 100 years." The chairman. Sir Ernest Davis, said that alter two years of patient and painstaking work the provincial council had begun to function in earnest as an administ rat i e and orgtuiir«ing body. Now was the time for settling down to hard work.

On Sir F.rnest's motion, Mr. J. Moiling aiul Mr. K. L. Usmar. joint .secretaries of the main council, were appointed chairman and vice-chairman respectively of the secretariat, which Sir Krnest described as "the backbone nf the organisation." It was announced that Mr. Moiling would act as secretary to the provincial executive and Mr. ITsmar to the metropolitan executive. Encouraging Financial Response. Allocation of the ex]M>nditure estimated for the operations of the council throughout 193S had met with a most encouraging response, said the chairman. The conference of the organisation held in November last fixed" the probable amount required at £3000; this was to be raised by an assessment over "23 local authorities of £2">00. based proportionately on population and rateable value, and by donation of the remaining £->00 from five other bodies. Nineteen of the bodies concerned had agreed to their allocations. Sir Krnest continued. This gave the council recourse to funds aggregating £2700. The local bodies who had not responded were the Waitemata County Council (£ll4 l.~>/). the Takapuna Borough Council (£7O 12/IH. the Henderson Town Board (£0 1.1/) and the Howiok Town Board, from which a favourable reply was expected. . "Although the total amount outstanding is small, a further effort will be made to secure the co-operation of these bodies. .As every district in the metropolitan area will benefit, it is proper that all should contribute," Sir Krnest concluded. Of the bodies which had not come iiito the scheme the Waitemata County Council had declined to take action, the Takapuna Borough had ignored the appeal, the Henderson Town Board had decided to take no action and a reply was being awaited from the Howick Town Bfrard. It was decided to approach those bodies and ask them to reconsider their decisions. Secretaries Appointed.

When the secretariat met a selicdule of dates for the meetings of the subcommittees was approved and it was decided that at an early date each subcommittee should elect its chairman, who would also lie given a seat on the metropolitan executive. Permanent secretaries were elected to the sub-com-mittees as follows: — Finance: Mr. 1). T.. Koliiiwon: historical research. Mr. T. Barr: school and children. Mr. 1). AY. Dunlop: programme and pageantry. Mr. A. Leese: pnblicitv. Mr. F. Ashcroft: spurting events, Mr. F. •!. Gwilliam: eatlv settlers and descendants. Mr. X. B. Chapman; entertainment. Mr. L. G. Ansell: fine arts. Mr. T. W. Nr. Ashby; religious festivals. Air. T. B. Congalton: marine activities. Mr. W. Brook Smith: women's. Mr. A. K. Wilson: returned soldiers, war veterans, naval, air force. etc.. Mr. A. T). -Tack: Maori race. Mr. F. T. Leys: agricultural, manufacturing and commercial. Messrs. W . F. ODonnell and X. E. Crimp and Dr. E. P. Xcalc.