CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 144, 19 June 1936, Page 8

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

The National Centennial Committee, appointed last March to consider ways and. means for iitting celebration of die Centenary of New Zealand in 1940, had the advantage, at its meeting yesterday, of a clear and comprehensive report on the Government's proposals, presented very competently by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry). These proposals include:—(l) Permanent memorials, the Government to erect a national memorial; (2) a series of historical surveys of the first hundred years of New Zealand's national life; and (3) suitable celebrations, both national and local, throughout 1940. Apart from the cost of the national memorial and the historical surveys, the Government offers to provide £250,000 for the celebrations. As explained by the Minister and amplified as to details by the Under-Secretary (Mr. J. W. Heenan) the proposals were favourably received by the committee and will, we feel sure, meet with general approval. We are glad to note that by "permanent memorials" monuments in marble and stone are not necessarily intended. Many improvements are possible in the planning of towns and cities which would serve the double purpose of use and ornament and perpetuate for all time a national event. These memorials are to carry a subsidy from the Government, but must be approved first. This should ensure that the money is properly applied. The idea of historical surveys is also good. The Minister visualised the publication of a series of works written by the most competent authorities and written for general reading as well as for the purposes of historical record. The point to bear in mind about this form of celebration is that the work must be well done and that means preparation well ahead. Local celebrations will stimulate local interest in the Centenary, but the programme will have to be so arranged that the dales do not clash and prevent the public, and particularly the visiting tourist, from witnessing as many places of liistorical interest as possible.^

On only one aspect of the proposals was there a strong difference of opinion, and that was the proposed international exhibition at Wellington. The Wellington committee had suggested the formation of a company with a capital of £300,000, the Government to assist to the extent of £150,000, including £100,000 as a free gift and £50,000 by way of share capital. The GovI eminent, in its proposals, offers a loan, free of interest, of £25,000. and a subsidy of £1 for every £2 of subscribed share capital up to a limit of £50,000. Thus if £100,000 were publicly subscribed, the Government's total contribution would be £75,000, making a total available capital of £175,000. The Mayor (Mr. Hislop) demurred at the proposal and declared that if the maximum Government contribution was u> be

only £75.000, they might as well give up the idea. Mr. Parry pointed "lit that the Government , .* iirlual expenditure would not be limited t" llint amount and lhal it would ro*t iheni

£30,000 lo participate in the exhibition, apart from considerable expense involved in tourist arrangements rind publicity. The expenditure suggested lnighl well cover the international side of the exhibition, leaving the city and the province to attend to more local aspects. If the Wellington public has confidence in its ability to make an exhibition a success, it will subscribe any additional capital required, just as the public of Dunedin did in financing its own effort some years ago. It is a mailer of self-help. We agree with the resolution of the committee that the Government's proposed total allocation is a generous one. The details it may be possible to adjust with greater satisfaction to all concerned at the Dominion conference it is proposed to hold later.