Centennial Celebrations

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 110, 12 May 1939, Page 3

Centennial Celebrations

PLANS POR OBSERVANCE IN FEILDING

Public interest was not very strong in (lie meeting convened by the Mayor of Feilding (Mr. T. L. Seddon) and held on Wednesday night to consider matters in connection with the forthcoming Centennial celebrations of the Dominion. The Mayor, not only as representative of the borough, but as the representative of a group of district local bodies, has carried the burden of attending to all Centennial questions affecting these interests, and his objective in calling the meeting was to place before citizens the several issues as well as to quicken interest in the proposal for a fitting observance of the occasion.

Mr. Seddon outlined the objects of the Centennial Act and the setting up of various committees and detailed the functions of the zone committees as well as the functions of the purely local committees. He wished to make it clear that the provisiou of local Centennial memorials was not the exclusive function of local bodies, as it was the desire of the Government that every section of the community should be associated with the observance and that as far as possible every individual would have an opportunity of subscribing or assisting in some way with the celebrations and memorials. It would be necessary for a representative committee to be set up with possibly sub-committees to take over the several aspects of the celebrations and also an executive committee. The committee would have before it the matter of the contribution for the provincial memorial (£3O), the contribution to the Mt. Stewart Memorial (£BG), ways and means of finding the money needed for the local memorial. (Kowhai Park Pavilion estimated to cost £1200), and to decide on the form the local celebrations will take. In reply to Mr. ,T. G. Eliott, the Mayor said that while it was not compulsory t,o contribute lo the provincial memorial be felt that, the town had a moral obligation to do so. In regard to the local memorial he understood the cricketers had raised £l4O towards t he costs while the borough council had £250 earmarked for this object. Mr. T. Donaldson said that the cricketers had set themselves the task of raising at least £250. Those present were then formed into a committee with power lo add, they being Messrs. T. Donaldson, J. G. Eliott,)

K, A. Levy, P. P. Stevens, W. H. Smith W. Dunn, N. Fitzpatrick, D. Hart, W Lee, M. Barltrop, H. Bell, T. L. Mills E. Whitehead, K. Ross, A. J. Humph reys and Mrs. Bell.

An executive committee with the Mayor as chairman was then appointed as follows: Messrs. J. G. Eliott (cricket and athletic interests), P. P. Stevens (Municipal Band), A. J. Humphreys (Chamber of Commerce), P. G. Guv (hockey association), K. Ross (High School), T. L. Mills <Civie Club), T. Donaldson, W. H. Smith (primary schools), M. Barltrop (secretary), and C. H. Tate (treasurer).

Mr. T. K. Hay, borough engineer, submitted a plan of the proposed memorial pavilion for Kowhai Park and this was formally approved and Mr. Hay thanked for his work.

Mr. Stevens said that the Municipal Band proposed to hold a queen carnival and it did not wish to clash with. any arrangements made for a similar function. Mr. Seddon could see no objections to the two organisations working together should a carnival be decided upon. The proceeds raised for the band queen would need to be kept separate. Apart from the Government subsidy (£1 lor £3) the projects under consideration would require approximately £7OO to be raised.

It was decided to leave the matter of forming sub-committees until a later date.