Cook National Day On October 9

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31980, 6 May 1969, Page 28

Cook National Day On October 9

(New Zealand Prett Association; WELLINGTON, May 5. October 9 this year has been designated Cook National Day by the Government to marie the 200th anniversary of Captain Cook’s first landing in New Zealand.

The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) announced today plans for the anniversary celebrations which had been worked out between the Government and the Gisborne City Council. “Althouigh the Government has decided that October 9, in a purely commemorative sense, be designated Cook: National Day, this has been done on the Express understanding that it will not interfere with any local authority's arrangements to observe the bicentenary on another date, such as the anniversary of the landing with which the authority Is con-

* cerned,” Mr Holyoake said in , a statement “I hope authorities in areas other than landing sites, will 1 hold their celebrations on * Cook National Day." The Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) would suggest ■ to education authorities that , the anniversary be marked in . schools by devoting October > 9 to a special study of Cook’s t voyages of. discovery. It would also be approprl- . ate for children to be grant- . ed time off school to take . part in local celebrations. . In the Gisborne area, schools . were being asked to grant a i holiday, to enable children to . take part in the celebrations. The New Zealand armed forces and Canadian, United States, Australian and Royal Navy ships Would also take part in the celebrations. ”1 hope, too, that community leaders and sporting and * cultural bodies throughout New Zealand will honour the : bicentennial by: arranging special events," Mr Holyoake said.