FOUNDERS’ SOCIETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 March 1939, Page 9

FOUNDERS’ SOCIETY

FORMED IN WELLINGTON. UNITING THE DESCENDANTS OF PIONEERS. (By Te l egraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A New Zealand Founders’ Society was formed at a meeting last night in Wellington, membership to be restricted to direct descendants of settlers who landed in New Zealand within 10 years of the founding of the official or main settlement of the province concerned. Mr Cheviot Bell was chairman. The secretary, Mr D. A. S. Ward, read a proposed constitution. It was stated that the objects of the society would be to maintain and foster the interest in historical events and places, particularly in those connected with the foundation of New Zealand, awakened by the centennial celebrations. Proposed qualifications for membership were that candidates for election should satisfy a competent committee that they were directly descended from men or women who had settled in Wellington or Auckland before the end of 1850, Otago before 1858, or Canterbury before 1860. The society would be the most exclusive historical organisation in New Zealand. Its objects would be to unite all descendants of the founders of the Dominion, stimulate interest in historical functions, prepare and publish an accurate list of founders, advocate the establishment of a New Zealand Day on February 6 instead of the various provincial anniversary days, promote the foundation of a national historical museum, preserve historical places, relics, and monuments, maintain contact with other historica'l organisations in New Zealand and abroad, establish a residential club and later obtain Royal charter, and issue an emblematic badge to be worn by members. Moving the formation of the society, Mr D. Hope Johnston said he had also participated in the founding of the Australasian Pioneers’ Club. He had observed both there and in New Zealand that the young people showed little interest or respect for historical matters, and even in Wellington the descendants of pioneers of 1840 or earlier appeared unaware that they bore honoured names. If sentiment were to mean anything in the future of the Dominion those names would carry great significance. There was nothing snobbish about taking a pride in the great achievements of one’s ancestors. Mr Johnston was elected founded of the new club. Others officers were: President, Mr Cheviot Bell; deputypresident, Mr Justice Johnston; vicepresidents, Messrs L. O. H. Tripp, D.

R. Menzies, E. Riddiford, and Major A. de Bath Brandon; hon treasurer, Mr D. R. Menzies; deputy-hon secretary, Mr D. A. S. Ward. The meeting, which was well attended, adjourned till March 15.