CENTENNIAL PLANS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 48, 27 February 1939, Page 10

CENTENNIAL PLANS

RAPID PROGRESS

MUCH WORK ALREADY DONE

A quickening in the settlement of plans for the celebration of New Zealand's Centennial at the end of the present year was stated by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) last evening to be now a feature of the arrangements commenced in the Dominion some time ago. People were beginning to realise, he said, the event in full size of its importance to them and to their country, and the I atmosphere being created would help the Government, the local bodies, and various institutions in work for , the celebrations. The meeting after the Easter holidays of the National Centennial Committee would be of importance, because of sthe comparatively few months left in the year within which to complete the working out of decisions reached. The National Committee was carrying out its large responsibilities well in the making of plans for the historic occasion. A tremendous amount of work had already been done, but there Was much more to be tackled, and only those engaged in the activities could estimate its proportion. CAUSE FOR ENTHUSIASM. "The coming of the first settlers to New Zealand," Mr. Parry said, "is in itself an event well worthy of elaborate celebration. But when that historical and interesting event is linked up with the vast and rapid settlement of the lands of the country, the enterprises of +he people; the mapping out of cities and towns which today are a credit to the founders and to progress, New Zealand certainly has something to wax enthusiastic about on its hundredth birthday. The people, I know, are keen to celebrate that big birthday—it means so much to them —and the Government is equally keen to leave nothing undone to help the people to do so."

The Minister said the Dominion-wide organisation comprising special committees, sports and' kindred bodies, which had planned and carried out with such fine success arrangements for Fitness Week, would be of immense service in similar work for the Centennial.