CENTENNIAL PLANS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 217, 10 June 1936, Page 8

CENTENNIAL PLANS

National Committee To Meet Next Week GOVERNMENT AID Ministers Considering Scheme The Government’s measure of assistance toward the New Zealand centennial celebrations in 1940, its general views iu relation to various plans prepared for the historical occasion, and other relevant matters, will be brought up for consideration by the national committee at a meeting to be held in the old Cabinet room, Government Buildings, oh June 18 at 10 a.m. The national centennial committee, to consider ways and means for the promotion of the celebrations, was appointed at a conference called in March last by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. W. E. Parry, at which were present, in addition to the convener, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, the mayors of the chief cities and those from boroughs which were centres in the old provincial days. “There is a great deal to be done to fix the celebrations so that they will reflect the national spirit of the country,” stated Mr. Parry last night. “Though the work of the Parliamentary session has kept us all busy, the work involved in promoting the centennial celebrations has not been allowed to drop behind in any way. Almost daily since the initial conference of mayors in March there has been some feature of the celebrations under conelderation.

“Cabinet, too, has not infrequently been dealing with the project. A committee of Cabinet, consisting of the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hou. D. G. Sullivan, and myself, was set up to put into writing practical proposals for the celebrations. This committee has been on the job for some time. Its written report was carefully considered by Cabinet as a whole, and the result has now to be gone into by the national committee, which comprises Mr. Sullivan, myself, the Mayors of Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, and the permanent heads of the Departments of Internal Affairs and Industries and Commerce. When the national committee has considered the proposals I think a definite course can then be set for the working up of .the celebrations,”

Mr. Parry added that at the meeting of the national committee to-morrow week he would be able to state the opinion of the Government as to the extent of its plans for the centenary.