Uepohatu opening: Sermon from Bishop Bennett (Day 2)

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Bishop Bennett facilitates the religious service and dedicatory opening of Uepohatu memorial hall on day two of events at Ruatoria in 1947. He notes that the theme is the unification of the two (Maori and Pakeha) races.

The marae hosted events held on the 12th and 13th of September that included cultural competitions with local school children and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall. The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars. 

A reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion) was also held. 

At the Investiture held on the second day, seventeen decorations were presented to servicemen and women who had served abroad and on the home front.

The gathering was an important one, attended by thousands including the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.  Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.

Reference:

Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: 43116. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.

Image Frederick Augustus Bennett. S P Andrew Ltd :Portrait negatives. Ref: 1/1-018699-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22642293

Submitter:
Submitted by mbadmin on

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