JUBILEE OBSERVANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1935, Page 15

JUBILEE OBSERVANCE

PROPOSALS FOR ITS CELEBRATION. GOVERNMENT RECOMMENDATIONS. A desire that the occasion of the silver jubilee of the King should be celebrated in an appropriate manner was expressed in a communication on the subject rereceived from the Prime Minister by the Whangamomona County Council at Tuesday's meeting. Mr. Forbes explained that it was the Government’s desire that “jubilee week” should date from and include May 6.

Monday, May 6, was to be a paid holiday for all Government employees, including casual labour, and those working under awards, the letter stated. The adoption by the council of a similar policy was suggested. This day would also be observed as a holiday for all public schools. It was proposed to ask all churches in New Zealand to hold thanksgiving services on Sunday, May 12, as well as on May 6, should anyone desire to do so.

After detailing proposals of a ceremonial nature for the observance of the jubilee at Wellington, the Prime Minister asked the council to arrange a similar function, to be followed by a procession or a fete, on the Monday, or on such other day or days as might be deemed suitable. A display of street lighting and the decoration of buildings was also suggested.

As the King had expressed a wish that

children should be especially provided for on the occasion the Government proposed that all scholars have the significance of the jubilee explained to them as part of the school curriculum on Tuesday, May 7, and that all local authorities co-operate with the educational authorities to mark the occasion ifi the minds of the children by some form of entertainment. For that parp° se the Government would grant about £5OOO, to be allocated on a sliding scale,, which would average 5d for each scholar. Friday, May 10, the last day of the term, was suggested as most suitable for the entertainment, but no objection should be raised to any other day of the week.

As far as military operations were concerned the defence authorities proposed to arrange reviews or parades in substitution for those usually held on June 3. Defence area officers were to be asked to co-ordinate their proposals with those of controlling local authorities. Dealing with othei- proposals for celebrating the occasion, Mr. Forbes said the Boy Scout organisation would be asked to organise a chain of bonfires throughout the Dominion at which young people would be expected to assist. With Their

Majesties’ assent it was further proposed to make a substantial grant to a suitable local fund, to which the public might also be asked to contribute. An extra payment would be made to the unemployed in order to enable them and their families to join in the celebrations. All sports bodies were invited to hold special sporting events during the jubilee week and the Government would arrange to validate any reasonable expenditure by local bodies incurred in connection with the celebrations. Cr. J. D. Law said he felt some steps should be taken to mark the jubilee. That the chairman should convene a general meeting with a View to setting up a'special committee, was the suggestion of Cr. M. P. Ford, but other councillors drew attention to the fact that in a scattered district such as Whangatnomona, the chief event would centre round the school and the school children. The council discussed the possibility of bringing scholars from surrounding schools into the township, but it was felt that by sb doing they would be detracting from any local celebrations that might be contemplated by teachers and committees of the country schools.

As a result no action was taken, though a motion was adopted granting all employees of the council a full day’s holiday on full pay. . . - .