"BACK TO DUNEDIN”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18759, 12 January 1923, Page 5

"BACK TO DUNEDIN”

“ HOME, SWEET HOME.” A suggestion that a “Back to Dunedin” Week should be organised has been receiving consideration from some of the members of the local business community, end it has been developed to the extent that one of them, Mr C. Russell Smith, has sketched the outline of a scheme that may serve as the basis upon which a complete plan tor the project may, if the suggestion meets with public favour, as it may be expected to do, be prepared by an Organising Committee. Mr Russell Smith writes: It is one of the boasts of the city of Dunedin that it has been the chief source of training and supply for the dominion of professional, commercial, and industrial leaders. The drift northwards and elsewhere has deprived us of multitudes of good men who have been attracted by the openings offered jn other centres and in less developed parts of our country. It is surprising the number of ex-Dunedin people who are to bo met with on a trip from Canterbury up to Auckland. It has occurred to mg that the time is about ripe for a “Back to Dunedin Week” and (hat this might bo organised for February, 192 V in conjunction with the usual Carniyal Week. With proper organisation what a gathering could bo assembled in Dunedin, with great advantages both from the social and commercial points of view! Below aro a few ideas for a programme for such a gathering:— 1. Religious.—Commencing on a Sunday the usual services could be held in our churches. A great many ex-mem-bers of local churches would be delighted to get bock for a day to the churches of their youth. A large combined service could be held, say, in the open, in the afternoon. 2. Educational.—-A demonstration ajnd procession of ox-students of Otago University and cx-pupils of our high, primary, and private schools. What a gathering this would be, and what a reunion of the thousands who have passed through our educational agencies. 3. Commercial.—A demonstration and procession of those who started their commercial careers in Dunedin would be a striking feature of the week. 4. Labour. —A demonstration and procession of those who have passed through our Labour Unions or who have been associated with Labour. 5. Social.—A demonstration and procession of Masonic Lodges, Friendly Societies, and all other societies of a social, musical, or literary nature. 6. Sport.—A demonstration and procession of ex-footballers, cricketers, bowlers, tennis players, golfers, athletes, and other branches of sport. Suitable tournaments could be arranged to be played during the week. Tlie above will bo an idea of some of tho items which could be included in the programme, and consideration will probably. suggest other schemes. The matter of organisation would- require the most serious attention, as on this the success or failure of the proposal would depend. A head executive would be required with sub-executives for each of tho various interests mentioned above. Efforts would require to be made to interest tho whole -of our citizens in the scheme, which could be widely advertised by every letter posted in Dunedin and suburbs for delivery in New Zealand outside of the city having a sticker labelled “Back to Dunedin Week, February, 1934,” attached to the outside of the envelope and as far as possible a circular enclosed giving full particulars.