THE QUEEN CARNIVAL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 42, 28 July 1939, Page 5

THE QUEEN CARNIVAL

•INAUGURAL MEETING PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED The attendance at the public meeting last cm Tuesday even,ing for the purpose of promoting a Queen Carnival to effect definite improvements "to the Whakatane Sports Domain^ • exceeded all expectations and if the present spirit of enthusiasm can be maintained there will be no need to doubt the achievement of the ultimate objective of £800. Y ;., .Following the report appearing in last Wednesday's issue, the meeting .after being opened by the Mayor, who sketched briefly the objectives, • discussed the proposal. Mr G. Brabant queried the method of raising funds, pointing out that there was a possibility of Queen Carnivals becoming stale in Whakatane. ' There were other methods,, why :v.,t for instance, a King Carnival or a Prince Carnival. Whatever was under it would mean that all coa'cerned would have to be prepared to -work hard. There were many things • or;—dances, concerts, already while there was the Centennial itself not far distant. Mr Warren asked if Queen Carnivals in the past had been successful in Whakatane. Mr Brabant: Oh yes. They have, foeen very successful, but the people .must work. Mr Webb formally moved that a •Queen Carnival be held for the objectives outlined. In doing so he realised that the Domain Board had not sufficient funds to improve the grounds as they should be and here was a good opportunity of all pulling "together, and obtaining them by a -concerted effort. It was a disgrace -at the present time to have the footballers changing behind trees. Facilities were urgently needed for the has ketball players who with a proper playing area would be able to hold their own against any visiting teams. He appealed to the citizens generally to support the carnival. Mr H. Stewart seconded.

The motion was then put to the ,meeting and carried unanimously. LENGTH OF CAMPAIGN. Discussing the proposed duration -of the carnival (a month to six weeks) Mr J. White suggested that -this was too short to achieve the sum in view. He suggested further tliat "the commencement date should be postponed till September. Mr Stewart considered that the pre sent, time was opportune. The town 'he' maintained was keenly awaiting the carnival, and while there was so -much enthusiasm it would be disastrous to talk of postponement. He moved that the opening date be adhered to (August 7th). Mr Cleland seconded and the motion, was carried. The length of the Carnival was next discussed, several speakers suggesting that it should be extended over three months. It was decided -at length to leave the matter in the "hands of the central executive. The question of clashing with possible functions already in mind bv the Ambulance committee was raised "lay Miss Kent. The meeting decided to use every endeavour to co.operato with the Ambulance supporters in this respect and to leave the dates •clear.

THE SPORTS QUEENS. The Queens were announced anil warmly approved as under Town Football, Miss Shirley Tippett Country Football. Miss Marie Carter Cricket and Hockey Miss Margaret Howat. The Basketball and Tennis will de•cide their Queen before the next •executive meeting. The question of instituting If pos. •sible a Maori Queen was next discussed. Miss Righton maintaining that •there would be a wide support for such a candidate. It was pointed out "that the idea had not been overlooked but that it had been found im. -possible 'to find a suitable person read}' and willing to undertake the Vwganising. The meeting passed a recommendation that "the committee explore} the possibilities and endeavour if possible 'to promote a Maori Queen. EXECUTIVE APPOINTED. Tlie executive was appo'nted as un- • der; President, Mr B. S. Barry; •chairman, Mr S. C. Armstrong; v'ce--chairman, Mr D. Saunders; secretary Mr J. Partridge; assistant secretary Mr C. Kingsley .Smith; treasurer, Mr R. Spring. The chairman pointed out that it -was the intention to hold the committee Avhich would consist bf the above plus two delegates from each of the Queens' committees, in office to carry out the building and cou. -struction of the various objectives rin view.

Mr Suckling menlioned the necessity of providing for the maintenance of the works once they were completed. The Domain Board, he said was not in a position to do this owing to their limited revenue ar-d unless this were done, much of the money would be wasted. STRONGER SPORTS POSITION. The Major said he thought the sports bodies by reason of the improved facilities would be in a faibetterl position financially. The gates would be bigger and they should then be able to contribute a reasonable sum to the Domain Board. Mr Saunders considered the money raised should be mainly devoted to permanent improvements. If the sports bodies were able to raise this for creating assets on, the domain, then he thought the board should attend to the maintenance. Mr. Suckling: The board can't do it with its present revenue. Mr Cleland felt sure that much of the work would be done by voluntary labour. There was much levelling Vo be done in certain parts of the grounds. He for one would be will* ing to give his time in this rcspect. What Whaka'tane wanted was an awakening of civic pride, which had not been very prominent in the past. SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Mr Henderson moved as a recommendation to the committee that 8 or 10 per cent of the total sum be set aside as a subsidy to the Ist, 2nd and 3rd candidates respectively. This money to be handed tfy the sports bodies responsible for their own private purposes. It was moved 'that a letter go forward immediately to the Minister of Internal Affairs or to the member of the district enquiring what subsidies might be forthcoming on the monies raised. .Further that a letter be despatched to the Municipal and Pipe Bands seek ing their eo-cperation throughout the campaign in consideration of the carnival. That the executive on its own int tiative stage a mid-carnival ball th:.* proceeds to be equally divided between the queens taking part.

CONVENORS APPOINTED. On the suggestion of Mrs Arm strong, it was decided to appoint convenors who would be responsible for the forming of the individual queen committees and who would undertake to have delegates appointed and suitable money-raising methods under consideration. Convenors appointed were: Town & Country Rugby Queens, Messrs Henderson and Peebles. Hockey and Cricket Messrs Warrtn and Stewart: Basketball and Tennis, Miss Righton and Mrs Bullard. Representatives from the Croqucl Club, intimated that they would bo willing to sponsor the Basketball and Tennis Queen in every way possible, but as a club did not wish to be officially connected with the campaign. In order to avoid clashing of dates ?i is the indention of the Central executive to draw up the whole plan of campaign, allocating at suitable intervals the dates for various events as they are brought forward by the delegates. The meeting closed ji 10 p.m. with a hearty vote of thanks to the chair.