AFTER THE CARNIVAL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 255, 8 January 1941, Page 4

AFTER THE CARNIVAL

Sir, —The willing helpers who had a hand in running the children's fancy dress parade on the afternoon of December 31 did their best, I am sure; but they might have done better. First of all, the Beacon, while . it gave its readers some wordy leading articles about the carnival, ap- At parently omitted to public where the procession would start and when. The posters: told us it would be at 2 p.m. As evei\yone knows, it was nearer 3 p.m. before the children appeared, in the Strand, that is a bad business. Do you know, Mr Editor, that the best dairy farmers start milking at 3 . p.m.? If not, then you know now. So what is the use of having children's processions at 3 p.m. if you want the support and attendance of country people? But no doubt the " Whakatane carnival authorities not want to cater for anyone but toAvnies. To start any public event after the advertised time is no good at all. We get used to football matches, show grand, parades, stock sales, etc. starting an hour late, so many people refuse to go to them. But there is no excuse for starting a children's event late. Most children are on the spot early, full of eager anticipation. Why keep them waiting? Why keep their devoted* ■ parents standing around? I understand one cause of the hold>-up at the start AA r as that some officials took dcAvn names of children. There was no need for that. Start the procesrsion off on time and let the reporter get the names if he Avants to. That is his job. What the children Want is to be on the way. What _J| the older folk Avant is to see the children.

Then why start the children's proi cession half a mile down Commerce Street? Was it to curry favour with business people in that street? Probably so. I't is all right to start of? decorated vehicles away down that end of the town, but little children definitely not. Why not assemble ihem in a backwater of traffic near the Rock and march them lip andi down the Strand several times and them a free ice cream on the way. This business of dragging the parents into ic j cream shops does not seem right. The business man', who donated the ice cream would probably have been just as well pleased if the children had been given their ices early in the day.. As it was, some fathers were anxious to motor home to milk about 3.30 p.m. or later, while mother and children were running round looking for ice cream shops.

We all live and learn, and somtf of us have learnt by experience that it is unwise to, expect small children and mothers to "walk far, especially r on a hot afternoon. Mere men are used to stalking along for miles and standing up for hours, but other folks have tight-fitting shoes, orsimilar reasons for not desiring towalk the distance of that procession. Perhaps had an all-ladies committee run this business they might; have thought of points such as this. There really were not a great } many people in town .that afternoMp, an/l they were congregated is the retail shopping why make escorting mothers walk away, up Commerce Street. No sir. Start the procession, where everyone is. Better luck next time, both as regards numbers and promptness in starting. Yours etc., WELL WISHER,