CENTENNIAL MEMORIALS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 March 1939, Page 9

CENTENNIAL MEMORIALS

NO PROVISION FOR LOANS. [FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, March 8. It is not the intention of the Government to approve of any centennial memorial the finance for which will be raised by way of loan. This was made clear by the Minister for Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry), when speaking to the delegates at the annual conference of the Municipal Association in Dunedin to-day. The Minister outlined the provisions under which the Government is assisting in the memorial plan, and suggested among other \ things, that citizens should each plant centennial trees. “It has come to my notice that in one case at least a local body contemplated raising the finance for a centennial memorial by way of loan and paying the interest and sinking fund on that loan out of its rate income,” the Minister said. “Such a proceeding is definitely at variance with the Government's conception ot an appropriate centennial memorial, which, in its opinion, and in the opinion of the National Centennial Council, should be a gift to posterity and not an obligation. Consequently approval will not be given to any centennial memorial which is to he financed by way of loan, and therefore such projects will not be considered for the centennial subsidy of £1 for £3. “Some units of the centennial organisation are still experiencing difficulty in determining what constitutes an appropriate memorial. This matter was considered at a recent meeting of the National Centennial Council, when it was decided: (1) That the nature of centennial memorials is a matter for approval in the first place by Provincial Centbnnial Councils: but every such memorial should be so designed as to be worthy of the occasion and carry some feature appropriately recording the fact that it is a centennial memorial. (2) That every application for approval of a proposed, memorial must be accompanied by at least a sketch design thereof, with full particulars and estimate of the cost. (3) That, notwithstanding anything in the foregoing, the following will also be considered, (a) Historical publications appropriate to the centennial, subject to their being approved by the National Historical Committee: (b) scholarships and otuer educational objects permanently endowed and approved uy the National Council. “There is one form of commemorating the centennial which should appeal to all owners of private gardens, and that is to plant a ‘centennial tiee during 1940. I commend the proposa to all associated with the centennial organisation in the Hope that they ■ Will further it in their respective d - tricts The cost to the individual will ■ not be great, but in the aggregate the ■ nation will have an asset of ever-in-creasing beauty and value. It the pio- ' nosal is taken up with enthusiasm, consideration can be given to the ques- ' tion of providing, at a small . cost, a - suitably worded metal plaque.