THE CENTENNIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23143, 15 September 1938, Page 15

THE CENTENNIAL

AUTHORITIES' POWERS LEGISLATION INTRODUCED CELEBRATIONS AND MEMORIALS EXHIBITION ARRANGEMENTS [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Described by the Minister of Internal Affairs, tho Hon. W. E. Parry, as a measure "to regulate machinery which was already working very smoothly," the New Zealand Centepnial J3ill was introduced in tho House of Representatives by Governor-General's Message to-night. The hill is divided into two parts, one dealing with centennial celebrations and memorials and the other with the arrangements for the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition, which is to be held'in Wellington. Authority is given for the setting up of the National Centennial Council and its procedure and functions are defined. Another section deals • with national committees and particularly with the functions of the National Historical Committee.

Grants on Subsidy Basis The provincial districts sot up for tho purposes of the centennial celebrations are: —Auckland, East' Coast, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, Canterbury, Otago and Southland. The existing organisation with regard to provincial celebrations is confirmed. Tho Minister of Internal Affairs is given power to approve celebrations and memorials and local authorities and others are authorised to incur expenditure in connection with the Centennial.

The Minister is empowered to make grants from public moneys appropriated by Parliament to provincial organisations and controlling committees as contributions toward tho cost of centennial celebrations or memorials. Grants will be made on a subsidy basis of £1 for £.3. Officers of the Public Service may be appointed for administrative duties in connection with the Centennial.

The circulation of unauthorised priuted matter in relation to Centennial celebrations is made an offence punishable by a fine of £IOO. The Centennial Exhibition

clauses dealing with the Centennial Exhibition are mainly for the purpose of validating arrangements which have already been made. There is power for the remission or reduction of customs or excise duties, land tax and income tnx in relation to the activities o{ the company controlling the exhibition, and the Minister of Finance is empowered to grant loans- to the company up to £25.000 in the aggregate.' Local authorities are authorised to contribute toward the cost of the exhibition or to subscribe for shares in the exhibition company, while the Wellington City Council ip empowered to remit rates on the exhibition site. Harbour boards are also given discretionary power to remit dues or any other charges on goods to be used for the purpses of the exhibition. Thij company is given permission to make by-laws regulating admission to the exhibition r.nd the granting of licences to exhibitors.

Actions taken in anticipation of the legislation are duly validator!. The bill was read a first time.

GUARANTEED PRICES

NO REDUCTION IN A SEASON THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY [nr teleg haph—special reporter] WELLINGTON. Wednesday The possibility of reductions being mado in the guaranteed prices fixed for any one season's butter and cheese was denied bv the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, in the House of Representatives to-day. The point was raised some days ago by Mr. A. C. A. Sexton (Independent-—Frank-lin), who gave notice to ask the Minister for a\j assurance that when prices were fixed for a season they would not bo lowered.

Mr. Nash replied that the Government had no intention of altering its policy, expressed on several occasions, that when it, hr 1 announced that it would pay certain prices for butter and cheese it would not reduce those prices during the season.

DELAY IN ANNOUNCEMENT EMPHATIC PROTEST ENTERED [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Wednesday A protest against the delay in announcing the guaranteed price' for the current season was made by the South Auckland Dairy Association at a meeting in committee to-day. The following resolution whs unanimously adopted:—"That this meeting of members of the South Auckland Dairy Association views with grave concern the announcement made in the House by the Hon. W. Nash to the effect that experts are engaged in examining evidence submitted to the Guaranteed Price Advisory Committee, and enters an emphatic protest against the delay in announcing the price and making the committee's report available to the industry. It points out that the report has now been in the hands of the Minister for nearly a month."