Southland Centennial, 1956. [Opening of Dutch Fair]

Rights Information
Year
1956
Reference
177750
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1956
Reference
177750
Media type
Audio
Series
D series, ca. 1935-1950s.
Categories
Nonfiction radio programs
Radio programs
Radio speeches
Sound recordings
Duration
00:18:46
Credits
RNZ Collection
Hanan, J. R. (Josiah Ralph), 1909-1969, Speaker/Kaikōrero
New Zealand. National Broadcasting Service (estab. 1936, closed 1946), Broadcaster

Part 1: Hon. J.R. Hanan (former Mayor of Invercargill, local M.P. and Minister of Immigration) speaks at the opening of the Dutch Fair in the Invercargill Drill Hall.
He reads a message from the Dutch Club to the people of Southland, thanking the community for making them so welcome over the past five years, saying "Nowhere in New Zealand have Dutch migrants been so readily accepted as in Southland."

He reflects on the contribution Dutch migrants have made to New Zealand. By the end of March 1956, 14,300 Dutch nationals will have settled in New Zealand, 700 of them in Southland. The local Dutch club symbol is a Kiwi wearing clogs. Hanan expresses gratitude towards the Netherlands government for helping them to come and talks about how the Fair reflects the integration of the Dutch population into New Zealand.

Part 2: T.I. McDonald talks about the organisation of the reliability car trial in the South Island and the responses to the drivers. He notes advances in driving and recalls early cars in Riverton. He awards first prize to S.D. Hay of Motueka. [18 January 1956]