CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 163, 12 June 1939, Page 2

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS.

SUBMITTED DATES APPROVED. SUBSIDIES FOR AIEAIORIALS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 9. Dates for Centennial celebrations already submitted were approved, by to-day's meeting of the National Cenj tennial Council and will be forwarded to various provincial committees for their guidance in avoiding clashes. More than 100 applications for subsidies on centennial memorial projects were considered and approved. The council decided to recommend the Government to grant all possible, facilities for the importation of whatever would be required for the centennial. It was agreed that Alarch 31. 1940, he fixed as a final date on which original applications might ho lodged for centennial subsidies and that all subside moneys must be lifted bv Alarch 31.“1941. The T'nder-Sccretnry for Internal Affairs fMr J. W. TTeennn) said that the centennial organisations had allowed what he would call without offence sectional interests, to get well ahead in the collection of funds. He instanced the response to Bishop Holland's cathedral fund and the centenary appeal of the Presbyterian Church. A motion was passed that in goneeral the council favoured only one local centennial memorial in any locality, except where- an additional memorial was a tree-planting project and 'or historical publication, hut in -special cases was prepared to consider more than one. THE AIAOrHS’ PART. Tho part to lie played by the Afnori people in the forthcoming centennial celebrations' was discussed. There could he no doubt, said the Afinistor of Internal Affairs, who presided, that the Alaori celebrations would form a notable feature in most celebrations. Kir Apirana Ngata said he had found that the ATaoris throughout the country were anything but warming up to the centennial because of the indefiniteness of the Maori celebrations. Tliev appreciated the position about Waitangi, but they had a confused impression as to just whore they were to fit in as regards the exhibition, provincial celebrations, local celebrations, and even at Waitangi. They felt a one-day celebration in Waitangi was not enough. People were not going to travel from one end of the North Island to the other for that. A twodays’ celebration would cost tho Government more, but it would mako all the difference. Sir Apirana. said lie had conferred with the exhibition authorities and the upshot was he did not know now what part the Afaoris were to take. The Samoans would he there in the Fiji Court, but lie did not know about the Maoris. Tho Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs said two days had been visualised for the Waitangi celebrations, one specially for the Alaoris, including the official opening of tho where runanga, and also a dav devoted to the , historic celebration of the -signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. One of the , greatest problems of tho celebration ■ was accommodation. It was very largely a question of co-operation with the district centennial organisations. Rotorua must, he the scone of the ■ Maori celebrations and in Gisborne during the Captain Cook celebrations it would lie expected the Afaoris would plav a prominent part. Tho National AI aori Celebrations Committee would , be holding another meeting as soon as possible and no more timo must be lost, said Air Heenan, in seeing the Maori people take part in the centennial not. merely as part of the general population of New Zealand, but also as the Alaori race.