Centennial Preparations To Go On As Usual

Northern Advocate, 5 September 1939, Page 8

Centennial Preparations To Go On As Usual

;• [Per Press Association. Copyright J J/' WELLINGTON, This Day. v‘‘ The Acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, in a statement last night, said the Government had de- ' cided that the organisation in existence for the preparation of New Zealand Centennial celebrations should continue to function as if there had i-- jbeen no declaration of war. * -- L iAr ? Mr 'Fraser said the Government saw :r : 7no Reason at the present juncture why ■fe th - e Centennial organisation. J - either be disbanded or cease to funcf tion. ♦ w ' h On the other hand, the whole spirit ■ ' of the Centennial, to celebrate in be- ,> cortiing fashion the achievements of the first hundred years of national ; existence, demanded that, unless dire necessity dictated otherwise, we should continue our work. 7 i , • Must Carry On. •' “It would be no tribute, either to v‘ ” : those who have gone before us, or to C' ourselves of today, 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,” Mr Fraser said.

It had been suggested, Mr Fraser said, that efforts now being directed to the raising of funds for Centennial memorial celebrations should be diverted to raising funds for patriotic purposes.

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 the Centennial or other ndrmai activities in New Zealand’s national, life.