CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23431, 22 August 1939, Page 13

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS

Sir, —May we enter our protest against the foolish waste of so much money as is contemplated in these celebrations. Those who consider themselves as interpreting the spirit of the pioneers in this manner are indeed wide of the mark. Do they imagine for one moment that our forbears would accept such? Do they think that money spent on pageants, illuminations and such are justified when so many people are in need of decent homes; yes, even food and clothes, not what someone else lias cast off; that some of the money would not be better spent in assisting the work for crippled children; that our returned men, those who fought to preserve what our pioneers created, should not have something more done for them instead of the little that is the lot of so many of them? And what of our Maori people? What part are they to play in all this? Are their wishes being considered; or, are they just to be so much in the way of exhibits of a century of progress? Would it not be more fitting to build for them homes so badly wanted bv so manv of them; to do something to keep their women out of the gardens of Chinese and away from immorality? And why not do something to help the Church and other workers among them? Why do not we live the Christianity brought to this land instead of the shallow materialism of all these grand schemes? Wo think that those who advocate them are more anxious to erect monuments to themselves than to express the spirit of the pioneers, the years between and all they really mean. Grand-daughters Of Early Pionkers.