NELSON’S CENTENNIAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 15 May 1941, Page 4

NELSON’S CENTENNIAL

DISCUSSION of the plan to mark Nelson’s Centennial by the establishment of a National Park at Golden Bay serves to focus attention on the wider question of the observance of our hundredth birthday. When the 1940 programme of celebrations was being framed before the war some of [ the Provinces whose centennials fell i a year or two later decided they would stage special celebrations at the appropriate times. Of these Nelson was one and Taranaki another. In spite of the war the people of Taranaki commemorated the hundredth anniversary of their Province at the end of March by a series of functions which were carried through and participated in with a local enthusiasm not surpassed by any of the other celebrations, national or local. Now it is Nelson’s turn to consider what, if anything, shall be done on and about Ist February next, which is our hundredth anniversary. One of the first duties of the newlyelected local bodies should be to discuss this question. The war has made the observance of such important dates in our history difficult. The Exhibition and other national functions suffered because of it and hostilities were not then at nearly such a critical stage as they are now. Taranaki’s preparations were well in hand before the war became serious; Nelson has made few if any arrangements for a programme of cclebra‘ion. At the same time the Centenj nial of our Province is an occasion of great local historical importance. The important thing now is for the people to come to a decision about what is to be done. If celebrations, | even on a restricted scale, are to be held to mark this unique occasion, j then it is not too early to begin plani ning for them. If no functions are to be held, or large-scale commemoration is to be postponed till after the war, then now is the time to come to a decision. The initiative in consid- : ering such an important question lies j with the local bodies, and especially

with the Nelson Provincial Centennial Council, which appears to have gone into recess.