MAYORS CONFER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19099, 21 August 1936, Page 4

MAYORS CONFER

CENTENNIAL FLANS PROVINCES PREPARING HISTORICAL RECORDS \V ELLIX OT 0 X E X Hll i ITIO X (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. At the Dominion centennial conference yesterday, the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. T. 0. A. Ilislop, outlined what had been done in Wellington regarding arrangements for the celebrations. He said that many projects were being considered in detail. Not very much had been done regarding historical records, the feeling being that that could best be dealt wit ft by the selection of a suitable group of authors. Great support had been found among all with whom they come in contact.

The Mayor of Auckland, Air. E. Davis, also outlined what had been done in that city. An historical research eommittte had been functioning since November of last year, said Air. Davis, and Consideration was to be given to the possibility of sending a qualified person to New South AVales to carry out research work. The committee was also to consider the publishing of the history of the Auckland province and of having compiled a roll of pioneer colonists. The Mayor of Christchurch, Air. ,T. W. Beanland, said that Canterbury would not lag behind national observance of the centennial, and the preparation of historical records should have a prominent plaeo in the celebrations.

The Rev.’ E. T. Cox, Alayor of Dunedin, said that an Otago provincial centennial council had been formed and its sub-committees were now in action. They suggested the coordination of various provincial historical surveys by a meeting of provincial representatives. Otago already had material needed for a survey. BOROUGH ASSURANCES

The Mayors of Gisborne, Blenheim, Napier, Invercargill, New Plymouth, and Nelson also gave assurances of support, as did Mr. 11. M. Tatere on behalf of the Alaori race.

The Alinister of Internal Affairs, the lion. W. E. Parry, in reply to a question by Air. Ilislop, explained that no undertaking had been given by him concerning a Government grant of £IOO,OOO for the proposed Wellington exhibition. The conference could appoint a deputation to the Government if it liked, though he knew the Government’s mind on the matter. The conference would have to understand that the Treasury was not a bottomless pit, and that the Government had already made the very liberal contribution of £250,000. AD-. Ilislop said that in view of what the .Minister had said, he felt it would be a waste of time to put forward a resolution from the Wellington provincial conference asking that £IOO,000 be allocated for the exhibition. He very much appreciated the promises of support for the project from all parts of New Zealand.

Air. Ilislop said that,-in place of the original proposal that £IOO,OOO should be allocated for the ' exhibition, he would suggest the Government be asked to make a straightout grant of £75,000, instead of a grant or £50,000, and a loan of £25,000. The Minister: L think you should go straight ahead with your exhibition.

Air. Hislop said that if such an arrangement could be made, it would assist enormously, and it would not, in fact, entail any increase in the total contribution from the Government for all purposes of £250,000. “I do not think there is any great obstacle preventing you from going straight ahead,” said Air. Parry. He added that there would be no harm in the exhibition committee later making representations. In the meantime, the matter would be better left where it was, though he did not want the impression to be taken that Mr. Hislop had not been doing the right thing. The remit was not put to the conference.