Mayor’s Appeal To Carnival Committee

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 4, 5 December 1947, Page 5

Mayor’s Appeal To Carnival Committee

An emergency meeting of the Christmas-New Year Carnival executive on Wednesday night decided, with regret, that it would be unwise in the circumstances to carry on with the carnival. The meeting was considerably influenced by a letter from the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, the text of which follows: ■ “While no doubt large crowds will congregate during the holidays and especially on New Year’s evening, I do not think any Public Body or Organisation should do anything to encourage the congregation of large numbers of people. “I therefore urge your committee to cancel its arrangements for the Carnival- especially as your, programme includes children’s events and large numbers of children will be present at the various festivities. “The cancellation of the programme will be a great disappointment to your committee, after the great deal of hard work that has been put into the preparations, but I consider it is absolutely necessary for the public good.

“I may state that I am conferring with the Health Inspector as to the necessity of prohibiting all functions at which there will be a gathering of children.”

Mr C. L. Jordan, chairman, said he personally felt it was a bit hard having to give up the carnival after all the work that had been put into it, but he was convinced it was inadvisable to go ahead in the circumstances.

“The Mayor has expressed his opinion as to what we should do, and I think we should support him,” said Mr H. G. Warren, who suggested that the programme be held over until next year.

He pointed out that, although they were not imposed yet, travelling restrictions from areas where cases of infantile paralysis had been reported to areas where there had been none would be an obvious precaution against the spread of the disease, and might be expected any time.

Thereupon it was resolved, on Mr “Warren’s motion, that the programme for 1947-48 be postponed in the interests of public safety. Matters of administration arising from the postponement will be handled by the finance committee, and the whole organisation, will be kept intact and called together during the year with a view to holding the carnival next year.