MARDI GRAS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14984, 3 June 1914, Page 10

MARDI GRAS.

PROPOSED FOR S_JXT YEAJ_.

SCHEME OUTLINED BY MR.

HOPKINS

A meeting of tho Industrial Association was held, yesterday afternoon to hoar Mr John Hopkins, of Wellington explain his proposals for a Mardi Gras' proposed to be held hero next year. Air J. B. Laurenson presided over a small attendance. Mr H*-pkin_ explained first of all what a Mardi Gras was and to do so recited tho history of tho Napier festival. The term, ho 6aid, was now accepted as a descriptive term of a carnival or festival, although literally it meant Shrove Tuesday. Most of the carnivals hitherto held in Now Zoaland, said Mr Hopkins, had never got beyond the stage of a glorified Sunday school picnic. At Napier tho original proposition had been on stereotyped lines until lie was asked to take over tho direction. Ho consented on two conditions, which were that ho should be given a free hand and should not have to ask any man for a donation. Tho carnival was conspicuously successful and "boosted" Napier throughout the Dominion. Every committee had beeti cancelled except tho executive, which was maintained because Mr Hopkins recognised that an executive was needed to give tho thing tone. A big guarantee fund was organised and the election of a Carnival Queen initiated. Hitherto they had been elected by committees so Air Hopkins originated the idea of electing the queen by popular votes, which were sold at two pence each. Some 75,000 votes were -old and this provided sufficient money to meet all current expeni.es. He tried to copyright tho idea of popular election, but found that he coukl not do it in the face of the copyright laws. If tried in Christchureh the' sanie principle would lie adopted. £180 hnd been spent for equipment of the queen and her maids of honour. •Turning to the procession, Mr Hopkins said he aimed tbroucrhout at spectacular effect. He maintained that was c- p enfcial. Nelson Pnrk was lit up bn'l linntly by the Gas Co. The procession was nearly one tni'e in length aud in it were introduced several designs from America as well as several oritrinal de-

signs inc'udirirr some nttpution to the

trades and industrial section. Some of the tableaux on foot were most effec-

tive. and. wore described at length by Mr Hopkins. Some cf the firi-V Kid spared no oxpenso in "booming" them-

selves and the procession. ■•Exhibition oi'T'-t" at the Park wns the -je-t n**vortisement any of the tradr-spoopV of Napier had ever had. Two days ard twe.-MVJitf.- wem Kpe n t on "Velson Pv'on side-shows. The business of the sido-i-hows. which in chid wl twontv-fo.ir

money-making affairs, was very big—"o hi-- that tho nre-a. nttra'-fious had t-o be postponed till the last day, on tho night of which- the festival closed with n_ monster fireworks demonstration "Von-'or was so r>!cfi<;r-<i -with the festival that it had decided to have another one next Christmas. .- "If you decide to have one here," said Mr Hopkins, "all the pa_simists will say you'll fail because you aro breaking now ground, but you believe it. You will succeed."

There had boon pessimists in Napier, he continued, who threw in former failures to him. The"Messiah" on Christmas ni"ht proved to be a huge r-.ucce"-" in spite of nl! nrodictions of failure -"tart:no; wiMi- uo f hin.<r. yet in the two days'- and nights' carnival, there was turned over £2405 8a 6d,- although tho 30,000 club told him that it did not matter whether a profit was made or not. Tho election for the Carnival Queen yielded £499 12s, and the outgoings wore £180. The sum of £763 was received from admissions- .to the Park at ono shilling a time. Some voluntary donations had been made, and the side-shows brought in £644, although there was spent upon them upwards .of £420. The advertising expenses wero heavy, but the expense was quite justified. With tho exception of-a sum which was sent to a Wellington paper all tho moncv was spent in Napier. Tho actual, money left over after all expenses had iboen_paid was £227 10s 2d, but if free help had been accepted the profit would have been over £1000. Where the Industrial Association would benefit, said the sneaker, was throu.h the publicity which tho different firms would receive through their shows being seen by tho public. Thn whole thing was worked on the competitive system, and prizes were awarded for the best in each section. By getting out of the ruck in this way the eye of the public would be caught where a display in a shop window iva' passed by every time. Industries Week by shop window display was not very. effective, but a procession would be infinitely more preferable. A big street fair would catch the public eve and would prove effective in every way. In answer to a question from Mr Hercus. Air Hopkins said he would gu_--gest three days and three nights for Christchureh. A longer time would cause the show to drag. Air HeTcus asked for~further particulars _re_arding the industrial benefit to be derived.

Air Hopkins said that all of the shows were on lorries and could be drawn about. The Napier Carnival had been essentially an amusement concern, but the industrial side could easily be dnveloped to a great extent. 'The best time, Mr Hopkins s-aid, would be some tune in February or March for Christchureh. It would take a good three months of very hard work to rrot the Carnival organised. It would take n stood pj/rht. weeks to net the neor.i-'» worked up, and then they would all wake up at once:

Air W. W. Charters moved a very hearty vote of thanks to Air Hook in-* for his address, and f-n'rl' that he honed a meetin_ would be called at an early •date to discuss "the o"estion of holding a Mardi Gras next year.

The mot.'on was carried unanimously. The chairman said that-that morning lie had seen an announcement that the Lancaster Park peonie intended havjnf a Mardi Gras in November. He had interviewed the chairman and secretary and they said they had not- seen the announcemont Hint +be In-'bietr'nl Association intended holding a Mardi Gras, and co-tended 'hit th-y irwc «v-,tit*o-*| to hold theirs first. He (Mr Laurenson). however, thourrM the Tndusrri<il Association bad been first, in the field, and was entitled te eon«i.'Wntinn. Howover, .the matter would probably be adjusted somehow aud could be considered at the next mooting.