WHY NOT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 5, 14 March 1947, Page 5

WHY NOT

NEW YEAR CARNIVAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MOVE Some scathing remarks on the almost complete absence of any street entertainment in the Borough of Whakatane over the Christmas and New Year period, were forthcoming at the Chamber of Commerce meeting last Wednesday evening, when after considerable discussion, it was decided to sponsor the holding of a carnival next season and for that purpose a committee was set up.

The matter was introduced by Mr C. L. Jordan who said that he had been quite ashamed last New Year at the number of visitors who had complained to him of the total absence of any organised entertainment or celebration in the streets. It was high time that the residents and businessmen generally became alive to the need to . brighten the town at Xmas and New Year for the dual purpose of not only keeping the local public in the town but of also entertaining the visitors. He suggested that the original carnival which he understood had been a great success, should be repeated next year on an even bigger scale. Another point mentioned by Mr Jordan was that over the holiday season there was not a possibility of visitors or travellers procuring a meal in the town. It was quite understandable that shopkeepers wanted to get away for the holidays but surely it was possible to arrange for some shops to be open on Christmas and others again at New Year. Three years ago between 1 and 2 a.m. on New Year’s he had had to place an attendant at the door of his premises to keep the crowd out. Last New Year at 11.15 p.m. there was not a soul in the streets —they had gone either to Ohope or Rotorua. It was time Whakatane woke up to what was taking place. What was to prevent a carnival committee running a procession, street entertainments, a special ball and organised fun for the children. There were many ways of assisting and if it was impossible for a businessman to assist he could at least support it by a donation.

Mr Beattie contended that in order to run a carnival successfully it was necessary to name an objective to which to devote any surplus funds. Messrs. Warren, Abbott, C. King-sley-Smith and the chairman all strongly supported the scheme. It was suggested that the whole of Christmas and New Year season should be included in the activities of the carnival and that a paid organiser should be given the work of promoting it. Mr Warren suggested that the Paper Mills Social Club, which had run a dance on New Year’s Eve might be persuaded to run the carnival dance. He pointed out that the people as a whole were hungry for entertainment and he was sure any effort would be widely appreci-; ated.

Mr Abott suggested a large decorated Christmas tree in the Strand from which Father Christmas could give every child present a gift. Thje meeting decided to set up a committee for the purpose of drawing up a tentative programme submitting it to a public meeting and inviting that meeting to form a Whakatane Carnival Committee under the active sponsorship of the Chamber. The committee was appointed as under: Messrs. C. L. Jordan, H. G. Warren, C. Kingsley-Smith, F. M. Abbott, R. Beattie, P. J. Green, J. Creeke, R. Morpeth and C. Good.