THE GALA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 251, 4 August 1937, Page 3

THE GALA

TO BE HELD THIS YEAR. DECISION OF A.A.A. EXECUTIVE. SOME OPPOSITION EXPRESSED. Though divided on the-advisability of holding a Gala on Labour Day this year, the Executive of the Advance Ashburton Association last evening decided that a Gala should be held and that the Mayor should be asked to call a further public meeting to make organising arrangements. The opposition was small in numbers but strong in advocacy of the dropping of the function on the ground that it would only lead to * further losses because the public were not interested. At a recent public meeting called by the Mayor to go into the question, only seven or eight people (all members of the Advance Ashburton Association executive) attended and they referred back to the Association the question of whether a Gala should be held. There were present Messrs M. J. Burgess (president), W. S. Kerr, S. Mitchell, W. H. Robinson, W. Thomas, F. K. J. Cooper, J. Brown, E. B. Condell and C. Ives. Mr Kerr said that while there were few at the previous meeting they felt they should carry on. He had felt that it would have been the end of the Association if so small a meeting had decided not to carry on with the Gala. The donation from the Trotting Club showed that there were still people who were sympathetic with the Association. There must be unanimity among the members, and, with a little alteration in the Gala, success could be achieved. This should meet the wishes of the people who opposed the Galas because of the large expense involved. Many people had told him they were delighted the Gala was not to be dropped. He . moved that the Gala be held on Labour Day, and that the Mayor be asked to call another public meeting at the beginning of September. He was satisfied there would be a good attendance. Mr Mitchell seconded the motion, and endorsed Mr Kerr’s remarks. He was sure that if the day they had fought to keep was allowed to drop, it would be difficult to get it again. He was sure the room could be packed by enthusiastic .people even in the depression period, and now was an even more opportune time. It was only a question of arousing the people. If there was no Gala, where would the funds come from ? Public Lack of Interest. Mr Condell said the public should attend the meetings if they were in favour of the Gala. As they did not do so, it indicated to him that they had lost interest in the Galas. Mr Robinson said that if the Gala was dropped, ‘someone else would step in and take the day, and the Association would not be able to get it back easily. He thought the people did not come to the public meeting because they were afraid they might be pushed into some job or other. Mr Brown said the public should take an interest in the Gala. It was certain there was dissension in the town over the Gala, but if more interest was taken in it they would make a success of it. It was no use a few trying to carry all the burden; it was too great for them. The Association should frankly ask the public for support. Mr Ives said that if it was a fact that the Fire Brigade was to hold a demonstration on the Saturday before the Gala it would kill the Gala. Mr Robinson said the Brigade had assured the Council that there would not be any demonstration on Labour Day. Attitude of the “Guardian.’' Mr Cooper quoted from leading articles in the “Guardian.” The newspaper, he said, was not against the Gala but wanted to see a change in the tjpe of amusement provided. He read extracts from a booklet published many years ago, in which the genesis of the Advance Ashburton Association was set out. Mr Cooper produced a number of cuttings from the “Guardian,” and MiBrown objected to the reading as taking up time, and members wanted to get away. Mr Cooper said the editor was not against the Association, as some people thought, and he knew the editor was in favour of the Galas being held, but wished the objective to be changed. The leaders indicated that the people were tired of opening their pursestrings. Mr Cooper went on to enumerate the works of the Association. lr the Association did not go on with its work it stood to reason it would not require funds from Galas. If the Gala was dropped for one year there would not be much trouble in picking it up again, but if the professional sports were dropped the permit would go elsewhere and would not be given again. The speaker had met with a good deal of opposition in the Association, and his suggestions had been turned down, but he did not mind. If trees were planted and works continued there would be a greater demand on the funds for maintenance, and where would the money come from? Mr Kerr: From the Gala. Less Money in Future. Mr Cooper: I will not indulge in cutting criticism, but we know bow much money we got out of the last Gala! We are not going to get the money from the Galas that we did in the past. The motor-cars have increased and they are taking the people to the country. Mr Kerr: They will bring the people to the Galas. Mr Cooper: Some of them. Last year we left no stone unturned and had all that work, hut then had all the opposition from the public. He added that ho was not against the amateur sports, blit be would move that the others be dropped this year. It took

1500 people at a shilling each to find the prize-money for the sports. He advocated making the Gala a carnival this year. Mr Condell moved an amendment that the Gala be dropped this year. Money had been lost last year and the Association had not the funds to waste. In spite of what had been Isa id, the Gala would, lose money this year. Ho was in sympathy witli the old members, but when it would enn up in waste it was no good going on any longer. Mr Cooper: You can’t carry that. The president: He understands that. Mr Condell: It is my opinion, anyway. The dropping in the receipts is a sure indication that the public are not interested. Last year there was such a deplorable lack of helpers that they had to be recruited haphazard from the crowd. The expenses of the Gala are entirely out of proportion to the size of the function. Mr Thomas seconded the amendment pro forma. Mr Ives said that while the figures of the Gala were not cheering, he would like to' see the Gala held. At the same time, the expenses were too high, and the motor-car was taking the people away. If the local people went away, they could not' expect outsiders to attend. The main thing was to cut down the overhead. The upkeep of the reserves should be the work of the Council. Mr Kerr said he did not know on what grounds Mr Condell based his assumption that the Gala would lose money this year. He was sure the public gave support to the function, and if the one this year could be made attractive it would be a success. He admitted there was nothing new to offer the public, but he was sure that could be got over. Mr Cooper expressed regret that the sun of optimism had not shone on Mr Condell that day. All the same, he added, there was something rotten in the State of Denmark when they had to spend such a huge sum as £SOO on the running of the Gala. Question of a Name. _ Mr W. K. Waters attended the meeting at this point. It was Mr Waters who moved, at the recent public meeting, that the Gala should not be held. He gave notice that he would move a further amendment. He was directly opposed to the motion, and said the time had come when the name “Gala” should be changed. The public was definitely giving the view that there was something rotten in the State of Denmark, though he thought they appreciated the work that had been done in the past. The public would look forward to a day of recreation after being tied in town all winter. It was this that made them go o\t of town on Labour Day. The president said people had suggested to liim that a carnival day should be held, without the sports. The amendment was lost, only two votes going for it. Mr Waters moved that a carnival be held on Labour Day, to consist of amateur events and children's events, all . cash competitions to be dropped. Mr Kerr: How can you put that to this meeting? We are not to decide; it is for the public meeting to decide. The amendment was seconded pro forma by Mr Cooper. Mr Waters: The last part of my amendment is the most important. If we do not cut out the sports, there will not be any public meeting, take it from me. Mr Thomas said the meeting bad been beating about the bush for an hour, splitting hairs. They should get on. Mr Waters: I will leave the room while you put the motion. I will not vote on the word “Gala.” Mr Waters was persuaded to remain in the room, though temporarily out of the meeting and later to take part in the proceedings. The amendment was lost on the voices and the motion was carried. It was decided to seek the co-opera-tion of the County Council and the Fuller-Hayward Theatres in regard to donations. Consideration of means of raising the £75 in subscriptions to qualify for the Trotting Club’s promised donation was given by the meeting. Mr Ives thought the Association could obtain subscriptions of 10s (id each from 150 people in the town and country and offered the first 10s' (id himself. The president and Messrs Ives, Broun and Condell were appointed a sub-committee to pursue the campaign for subscriptions.