CENTENARY OF N.Z.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 18 June 1936, Page 6

CENTENARY OF N.Z.

POLICY DECISIONS OF GOVERNMENT METHOD OF CELEBRATING OUTLINED BY MINISTER (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. Policy decisions of the Government in preparation for the celebration of New Zealand’s Centenary in 1940 were placed before the National Centennial Committee by the chairman, the Hon. W. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs to-day. The Government, he said, had decided that the event would be celebrated by: (1) Permanent memorials, Including a National memorial to be erected by the Government. (2) A series of historical surveys of the first hundred years of New Zealand’s national life. (3) Suitable celebrations, both national and local, throughout 1940. Apart from the cost of a national memorial and historical surveys, he said, the Government contemplated providing £250,000 for the celebrations. On the question of permanent memorials, Mr Parry said the Govern-’ ment would provide the cost of anderect a permanent national memorial. Further than that he could not go at present. Its form was under consideration by the Government, and an announcement would be made in due course. The Government would make provision for subsidising moneys raised locally for memorials duly approved. A national committee would be set up at an early date to go fully into the question of historical surveys. He visualised a series of works by the most competent authorities in New Zealand on every phase of our national life, written moreover for general reading as well as for the purposes of an historical record. As to the actual celebrations, he divided these into five classes: (1) Celebrations of events of national importance , at places where the events actually occurred. The J Waitangi Treaty at Waitangi, and the proclamation of sovereignty over the South Island, at Akaroa,’ were quoted to illustrate what he meant. (2) Purely local celebrations, this tc be divisable into (a) particular local events and (b) general celebrations in honour of the centenary. (3) Maori celebrations.(4) An exhibition at Wellington. (5) Special attractions for overseas visitors. Witn regard to the expenditure of £250,000 mentioned above, he said this provided up to a maximum of £75,000 as a loan and subsidy for an exhibition at Wellington and the , balance for national celebrations would be held by the Government itself, or by provincial organisations on behalf of the Government, and subsidising on £1 for £3 moneys raised locally-for local celebrations crme-vii. morials. :-w In addition to all the above, the .. . Government would bear the cost of suitably entertaining guests from abroad invited by the Government nnd would also, between now and 1940, suitably increase the vote to the Tourist and Publicity Department for advertising abroad and providing special tourist attractions. In regard to the Wellington Exhibition, Mr Parry said the Government concurred in the view that the exhibition should he held in Wellington. The Wellington committee which was fathering the proposal, visualised a company with £300,000 capital. To that the Government had no objection. The committee, however, asked the Government for assistance to the extent of £IOO,OOO by grant and £50,000 by way of share capital. Frankly, it was impossible for the Government to consider financial help on such a scale as that, in view of the very large sum i,t would have to pro- .; vide in connection with other celebra-'. tions, and national and local memorials. What the Government was prepared to do once the company was formed was to make a loan' free of interest not exceeding £25,000 and a subsidy of £1 for £2 of subscribed share capital up to a limit of £50,000. It must not be forgotten, he pointed out, that whatever financial help the Government gave would not be the full extent of the Government’s exhibition expenditure. It cost the Government of the day £30,000 for the Government’s courts and exhibits at the Dunedin Exhibition, and if the Wellington Exhibition was on the same scale at least that amount would be required in 1940.