N.Z. FOUNDERS’ SOCIETY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 29 January 1940, Page 4

N.Z. FOUNDERS’ SOCIETY

EXTENSION OF ACTIVITIES FORMATION OF PROVINCIAL BRANCHES MANY NELSONIANS INTERESTED The Ne.v Zealand Founders’ Society is hopeful of extending its activities the provincial districts, including Nelson according to Mr L. R. Palmer, a member of the central executive in Wellington, who at present is on a visit to Nelson. Explaining the objects of the Society and the progress it had made. Mr Palmer said that it had been established in Wellington nearly a year ago at the suggestion of Mr D Hope Johnston, of London, and a former New Zealander. Its main aim was to unite all those descendants of the pioneers who could be called the real founders of New Zealand. So good had been the response that the Society already had about 300 members, some of them being Nelsonians who had Joined up and who hoped to see a branch established in Nelson. THOSE ELIGIBLE To be eligible for membership a person must have had at least one ancestor who arrived in one of the six original ! provinces. Auckland, Wellington. Nelson. Canterbury and Otago within ten | years of its official foundation. In the I case of Nelson the ancestors would have [ had to arrive before 1852. This quallj fication had been criticised in some ( quarters as tending to make the Society ! exclusive but Mr Palmer pointed out ' that it must be remembered that it was the founders that the Society sought to honour, just as it sought to keep the pioneer spirit alive among their descendants by uniting them in common membership of a society

“There are thousands of these descendants throughout New Zealand.” continued Mr Palmer, "and most of them are proud of their ancestry and would welcome the chance to belong to an organisation such as the Founders’ Society. This seems particularly true of Nelson, which, as much as any province in New Zealand, can look back with pride to those able men and women who founded the settlement. This is why we are hopefpl of getting an active branch established here reasonably soon. Meantime those Nelsonians who wish to join with the Wellington branch will be welcome. Mr J A.. Harley, of Harley and Sons. Ltd., has consented to act as local representative of the Society and he or the Society's Wellington secretary. Captain Douglas Bryan, will be glad to give further information.” DOMINION-WIDE ORGANISATION It was explained further that the ultimate aim was to have a Dominionwide organisation, consisting of a central executive in Wellington with | branches in the other cities and towns. There was a great deal for such an organisation to do and its aims in no way conflicted with any other pioneer society or association. In Wellington valuable historical books and documents had been given to the society while many hitherto unrevealed historical details were to be found among its records. These were gradually being published. The Society had already organised some successful social functions, including the Centennial dinner at the Exhibition, at which there was an attendance of about four hundred. The first annual conference of the Society was to be held in Wellington on 6th and 7th February. It was intended to make 6th February, the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. the Society’s official day of commemoration with the idea that it be known in future as "New Zealand Day.” On that day this year there was to be a big evening function in Wellington at which many members, intending members and thc : r friends hoped to be present.