ONLY SEVEN CAME TO ORGANISE THE XMAS CARNIVAL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 14, 1 November 1948, Page 5

ONLY SEVEN CAME TO ORGANISE THE XMAS CARNIVAL

Lack Of Interest May Kill Scheme Is interest in the public affairs of Whakatane entirely lacking amongst the business men of the town? It is to be hoped not. Although the fact that the annual general meeting of the Whakatane Christmas Carnival Committee on Thursday night drew an attendance of only 7 (including a reporter) seems open to th'at interpretation. The meeting was called to elect officers for the organisation of a carnival at Whakatane during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. .♦ The meeting was timed to start at 5.15 p.m. in the Borough . Council Chambers, Just before that time the Beacon’s reporter arrived, expecting to find the meeting almost under way. Instead, he was greeted by an empty doorway and a roomful of vacant chairs.

He pondered. Perhaps he had got the time or date confused? Fished out the official notice. No, there it was, Thursday, October 28, 1948 at 5.15 p.m. No doubt about that. Suddenly a door opened and the secretary of the supposed meeting, Mr L. D. Lovelock, poked his head out inquiringly. “Any meeting here tonight?” asked the pressman. “Yes” “When?” “Oh, no one has turned up yet. Just wait round a bit and we will start as soon as they arrive.” They. t came. All five of them, the fifth arriving about 5.40, only 25 minutes late.

There were 62 notices sent out and about half a dozen belated apologies received. Little could be done by those present as there were not enough to form a quorum. It was decided, therefore, to call another meeting for the evening of November 4. If the response is again poor the pro- N ject will probably have to be dropped., As one of those present put it: “The richer the town, the less interest it’s inhabitants seem to take in it. The work is nearly always left to a few willing, horses.” Whifchijust about summed up the feelings of the remainder of those there.