CENTENNIAL FILM

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 82, 4 October 1938, Page 12

CENTENNIAL FILM

HISTORY OF DOMINION

FOR EMPIRE RELEASE

A film of 5000 ft, to be produced by the Government Publicity Department and directed by Mr. H. M. Bridgeman, dealing with 100 years of the life of New Zealand, will shortly be commenced, and is expected to be completed in ten months. It will be released throughout the British Empire, and, beginning with the efforts of Wakefield's earlier schemes in London, will end with the present-day prosperity of a land miraculously developed in such a short space of time. A good deal of expensive modern equipment has recently come to hand for this film, which will be supervised by a committee of departmental and historical experts.

The early ships en voyage, landings in New Zealand, the French settlement at Akaroa, Maori wars, gold rushes, early farming, and bush-clearing, the primitive transport of earlier days, by sledge and "catamaran," the hardships of early settlers, will lead up to a progressive record of the emergence of the struggling colony to the position of a proud Dominion, taking its place in the battle line of the Empire. Most parts of New Zealand will figure in the production. Some localities will see more activity than others, chiefly because of the presence in the one spot of many of the "properties" needed and the facility that exists for. grouping Natives for the big historical scenes. It is a stupendous task when the need for as much accuracy as is possible is considered. Already much research has been done. There is such a wealth of subject that those entrusted with the cutting of the film will have an onerous duty.