THE CENTENNIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 152, 30 June 1938, Page 20

THE CENTENNIAL

HUTT VALLEY PLANS

REPRESENTATIVE/CONFER-

ENCE

LOCAL BODIES' HELP

Every important body in the Hutt Valley was represented at a conference held in-the ketone Council Chambers last evening to .consider plans to celebrate the centennial and particularly the landing oi the first settlers on the Petone beaqh. The Mayor of Petone (Mr. ; G. London) was in the chair. y Those who attended were the Mayor (Mr. J. W. Andrews) and Councillor A. Marshall (Lower Hutt), the Mayor (Mr. P. Eobertsop) and Councillor J. Blewirian (Upper/Hutt), Councillors J. C. Burns and J.'.R. Gay nor (Petone), Councillor J. Bj Yaldwyn (Hutt County), Mr. C. L. Bishop (Town Clerk, Eastbourne), A. W. Press (chairman) and Mr. f, Dowse (Hutt Valley Electric Power/ Board), Messrs. A. Scholefield andjH. G. Burrell (Petone and Lower Hat Gas Lighting Board), Messrs. F.* J. Jones and W. R. M. Pearce (Hutt River Board).

Mr. London, asked for the co-opera-tion of all bodies. There was a certain amount of parochial feeling, but on an occasion such as this it could be dropped. Petone did not want to claim absolutely the historic celebrations on the beach. ./An indication had been given that il there was sufficient enthusiasm in the Hutt Valley the Government would give support. Mr. London suggested that a queen carnival should be held throughout the Hutt Valley and at Eastbourne. This would bring in revenue and culminate in a week's activity round the historic spot. Tlfe queens could represent the various .types of sport and industrial and local body interests. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) 'had given an indication that memorials .should serve a useful purpose. /Consideration had been given to' erecting a bathing pavilion, with panels/ incorporating something symbolic 'depicting the arrival of the settlers on the Tory, Cuba, and other shipsj The industries could be asked to co-operate Ijecause of the industrial importance of the Hutt Valley.

I NO SUGGESTION OP f PAROCHIALISM.

jytr, J. W. Andrews said that any suggestion of parochialism existed only as/a figment of the imagination. Lower Hutt hoped , that the events would be outstandingly successful. He thought the bathing pavilion proposal was an excellent idea. Lower Hutt might or might not do something about a memorial park. Petone had an excellent and a safe beach. • l Mr. A. Scholefield, who had been one of the Hutt Valley representatives on the Provincial Centennial Committee, said that September 30, 1939, had been set . aside as the day on which the Hutt Valley local bodies could I act as hosts. This day celebrated the hoisting of the New Zealand Land Company's flag on the site of thp Petone Pa. It had been agreed that the memorial should be unveiled oh this day. There would be three memorials in the Wellington Province, and one was .to" be .mi the Petone beach. At the moment he thought the most important thing was to get local bodies pledged as to the amount they would provide. Mr. Andrews said that if the Government was making £150,000 available for Centennial schemes the Hutt Valley, which comprised a fortieth of the population of New Zealand, was entitled to £3750. Mr. London said, the amount was to pay for Centennial'schemes and celebrations. A' deputation from Petone had waited on Mr. Parry, who was enthusiastic about the bathing pavilion proposal, provided there was support for. the scheme in the'Hutt Valley.

Mr. P. Robertson expressed Upper Hutt's interest in the proposals and said he thought the bathing pavilion scheme an excellent one. Mr. H, Firth- (Town Clerk, Petone) said he had written to the New Zealand Institute of Architects about the bathing pavilion proposal, and had received a reply that a bathing pavilion combined with a dignified memorial would be appropriate, Mr. C. L. Bishop assured the meeting of Eastbourne's help, although, he said, he could give no promise of financial support at this stage. Eastbourne was considering the development of an area of five or six acres between the Bona Bay wharf and Pay's Bay. If anything was done in this respect it would have to avoid clashing with the .Petone; proposal, i' jbodies.. • Mr. London stated- that a levy on local bodies could:not be considered. The financial-support of sports bodies, chambers of commeree.etc,, could be sought. The first thing was to arouse enthusiasm, Mr. Parry had said that he could only consider schemes put forward through the provincial committees. , Mr; Andrews said it was difficult to get much iurther without knowing how much subsidy would be available. Various speakers said that no details of finance could be expected wVI the , Centennial plans from vaflpu?' parts of New Zealand were before the! Government Messrs. F. J. Jones and A. Marshall said that all this meeting could do was to reaffirm a principle. The following motion, 'That this meeting representative of all local bodies of the Hutt Valley Approves of the erection of a fitting memorial commemorating the arrival of early settlers oh the Petone foreshore and that a committee-be set up to obtain the approval of the central executive and the Government" was carried unanimously, Another motion, moved by! Mr. A. Marshall and. seconded by Mr. J. B. Yalpwyn, that an executive consisting of the Mayors of Lower Hutt, Eastbourne* and Upper Hutt, and Messrs. Press (Power Board), Jones (River Board),, J. Cumming (Gas Board), and Ward Pearce (Hutt County) be set up to co-operate with the Mayor of Petone to take, steps to advance the proposal and to report back to a further meeting at a later date, was also carried. AVIATION DISPLAY AIR RACE SUGGESTED (By Telegraph—Press Association.j CHRISTCHURCH, June 29. ; Suggestions of ways in which the Centennial of New . Zealand might be made to provide a fillip to civil aviation in the Dominion were made today by Mr. R. S. Taylor, president of the Canterbury Aero, Club, Mr. Taylor said there were not a few difficulties to be overcome, but he thought that, with the support of the Government and the willing co-operation of aero clubs, much could be achieved. The main idea was that there should be a display of light and mediumpowered aircraft in a special hall at the main Centennial exhibition at Wellington,. The proposal would be to in-^

vite manufacturers of suitable types in all parts of the world to enter one or more types for the display and to make it open also for any firms desiring to exhibit aircraft engines and accessories. Even this would not be a limit as a display of the range of instruments installed in a modern airliner, it was thought, would be of considerable interest to the man in the street, especially if their use and working were .to be demonstrated as well.

The main drawback to this scheme was that it was doubtful whether the market in New' Zealand as yet was large enough to persuade many firms to accept the invitation. Pointing out that air races had been successfully held in Australia, Mr. Taylor said that it was at least time that the holding of one in New Zealand was considered. Little danger would be attached to the running of a race round the Dominion, as there were suitable airports in the centres at which machines could stop for nights. Here the main difficulty would be in finding the finance necessary for prize money. Mr. Taylor said the scheme was for the holding of a reliability and economy trial rather than a straight-out speed test. Where speed was the main factor too many dangers cropped up, and, .although a speed race might be more spectacular, a reliability trial would be more useful and informative. It would be expected that aero clubs in the main centres would each enter one machihe and, with an already woeful shortage of aircraft at the disposal of clubs, it would not be fair to* expect; them to risk a'machine in ,a . purely speed contest. ,

If the air' race suggestion was rejected and some support was forthcoming for the display scheme at the Centennial Exhibition, Mr. Taylor suggested that those aircraft sent from other countries should combine with club aircraft for a tour of the main centres in» the Dominion. Field days could be arranged at each club aerodrome and an arrangement come to with local bodies concerned to charge for admission. "It might be not too much to hope that the Government will provide some of the finance necessary for arranging the schemes if any are decided on," said Mr. Taylor.