THE CENTENNIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23263, 4 February 1939, Page 18

THE CENTENNIAL

CAMPAIGN FOE FUNDS AUCKLAND EXPENDITURE CRITICISM OF PROPOSALS Doubts of the wisdom of the campaign launched by the Mayor of Auckland, Sir Ernest Davis, on behalf of the Metropolitan Centennial Executive, to raise by public subscription £.10,000 (which would be increased by Government subsidy to £10,000) to cover the cost of the celebrations in Auckland in 1040, are cast by the committee of the Waitalcere Centennial Park Citizens' Association.

The committee, at a meeting yesterday, adopted the following resolution: —"This association recognises that fitting methods of celebrating the centennial are necessary and indeed desirablo, but seriously doubts the wisdom of the expenditure of so large a sum as £40,000 upon this purpose; no tangible or permanent asset will accrue to the citizens or their descendants from the suggested expenditure, and we would urgently suggest that this matter should receive further careful consideration." Australian Visitors On behalf of the Mayor's fund, the president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Mr. A. Ely, has circularised members of tho chamber outlining the programme of celebrations which will extend in 1940 from January 6 until October, in which month two weeks will be devoted to tho honouring of the 100 th anniversary of tho city of Auckland. Mr. Ely states that to carry out tho programme foreshadowed, which is designed to attract to Auckland large numbers of Australian tourists, it is estimated that £40,000 will bo needed. Apart altogether from the sentimental interest attaching to the centennial, all the funds raised for celebrations, together with the fresh capital introduced by visitors, will be spent in Auckland. As the benefits to tho community will bo widespread all sections are being asked to contribute. Waitakere Park Project "Wo say that to spend £40,000 in the manner suggested not only will leave no asset, but in six months' time it will be forgotten," said Mr. E. Earle Vaile, speaking for the committee of the Waitakere Centennial Park Citizens' Association, and in explanation of its resolution. "If £30,000 I is raised from the public of Auckland for the purpose of entertainment, it will push the centennial memorial scheme beyond tho hope of attainment. For the Waitakere memorial scheme, £30,000 is also required. We suggest to citizens that before deciding to subscribe to the general celebrations they should wait and ascertain the nature and magnitude of the memorial. If the Waitakere Park plan is chosen as the memorial we have every reason to believe that the necessary money will be subscribed."

COMPLETION OF LIBRARY PROPOSAL AT PAEROA [by telegraph—own correspondent] PAEROA, Friday Approval of a plan to complete the library building as a Centennial memorial was given by the district centennial committee at a meeting last evening. The cost of the building will bo in the vicinity of , £I2OO, which the Government will subsidise to about £3OO. It is hoped to raise at least half of the remainder by public subscription and to find the balance by contribution from the Paeroa Borough Council,