Dry Season Affects Centennial Payments

Northern Advocate, 16 May 1939, Page 5

Dry Season Affects Centennial Payments

“Owing to the dry season, and in view of the fact that most of the collections will be made through the winter months, money will be definitely short, and the chances of raising the money required for Centennial memorials are consequently very remote,” was the text of a statement made by the Northland Zone A Executive, when suggesting that March 31, 1940, be fixed as the final date for the lodging of original applications for subsidies. “It is known that the farming community, which forms five-sixths of the total population of this zone, will absolutely refuse to contribute during the winter months,” the Zone A executive had explained. When the matter was discussed at the Auckland Provincial Council Executive meeting in Whangarei on Saturday night, the joint permanent secretary reported on the matter as follows: “Wo feel that the executive will find themselves in general sympathy with the foregoing views, as they doubtless mirror the difficulties with which all other farming communities in New Zealand are confronted; and, believing that delay in the raising of funds to qualify for subsidy is unavoidable and inevitable, they recommend that the request of Northland Zone A bo agreed to.” A recommendation along these lines is to bo forwarded to the National Council.