CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23393, 7 January 1938, Page 8

CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION

THE KING AS PATRON PROGRESS OF ORGANISING WORK (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Jan. 6, The Prime Minister (Mr M, J. Savage) to-day announced that he had received advice that his Majesty the King had gladly consented to become royal patron of the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition and that his Majesty had expressed a hope that the undertaking would prove a very great success. The Centennial Exhibition, which will open in November, 1939 (less than two years hence), is to be one of the outstanding features of the celebrations commemorating the centenary of New Zealand. The idea of an exhibition on a scale larger than any previously attempted in New Zealand was first conceived by a committee of Wellington citizens representing sill sections of the community, as far back as 1930. At the first meeting of the committee it was agreed that the holding of an exhibi tion (international in scope) would be a fitting manner in which to celebrate the one hundredth year of British sovereignty in New Zealand For the purpose of efficient organisation and control the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition Company, Ltd., was incorporated on September 24, 1936, with a nominal capita] of £150.000 The Government has made available a subsidy of £ 1 for every £2 subscribed, not exceeding £SO ('OO and a loan of £ 25,000 free of interest. The shares taken up by the subscribing public companies and local authorities now exceed £87,000 Marked progress has been made in the setting up of committees, and the organisation is well forward to assure the ultimate success of the undertaking. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr D G. Sullivan) has already convened meetings of permanent heads of Government departments with a view to co-ordinating then activity in providing interesting and outstanding displays in the Government pavilion, and the enthusiasm displayed by the departments gives great promise of the achievement of these objectives

Arrangements are also being made with the Home Government for the engagement of one of its famous military bands, and this should prove one of the attractive features of the exhibition