N.Z. CENTENNIAL

Grey River Argus, 5 September 1939, Page 5

N.Z. CENTENNIAL

No Postponement i . .' 1 ■ . AID TO NATIONAL SPIRIT. PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Sept. 4. “The Government has decided that the organisations in existence for the . preparation of New Zealand's Centennial celebrations shall continue to [ function as if there had been no declaration of war,” said the ActingJ Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, -in a statement to-night. Mr. Fraser said that, with the announcement of the outbreak of war, many questions had leached the Government, asking whether, under the circumstances, the Centennial, organisations throughout New Zealand should continue to function, particularly in view of the published decision that the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition Company would carry on with the Exhibition. ! “The Government sees no reason at j the present juncture,” said Mr. Fras- ! er, “why r the Centennial organisations should either be disbanded or cease to function. On the other hand, the I whole spirit of the Centennial to celebrate in a becoming fashion the achievements of our first hundred ! years of national existence demands I that, unless dire necessity dictates otherwise, we should continue our I work. Il would be no tribute either Ito those who have gone before us, or Ito ourselves of to-day, if, at the present moment we gave any such sign of weakness as would be apparent, by the abandonment of our centennial proposals, or any other retreat from the rational functioning of our normal activities.” i It had been suggested, Mr. Fraser said, that efforts now being directed to the raising of funds for Centennial memorials and celebrations should bej diverted to raising funds for patrioticpurposes. At the present juncture, at , least, and for some time, it was not likely that patriotic purposes would , require funds on such a scale as would necessitate the ceasing of efforts to . raise moneys for lhe Centennial or other normal activities for New Zea- ' land’s national life. “The whole spirit of the Centennial,” added Mr. Fraser, “has been to arouse in our people a proper national pride. So far from lhe present [position rendering the continuance oi those efforts undesirable, 1 am of opinion that the aspirations and responsibilities of the Centennial efforts i themselves. will be a most valuable aid to the cementing of the national I spirit, which is so necessary just now.”