TIMARU FLORAL FETE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18903, 19 January 1927, Page 14

TIMARU FLORAL FETE.

* ; MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Floral Fete Committee was held last evening. Mr.P. R. Raymond presided over a good attendance. A deputation from the Timaru Municipal Band was received in connexion with a project of theirs, the secretary, Mr W. J. Ruston, acting as spokesman. Mr Ruston stated that since last year the band- had become municipalised, in that the municipality paid the salaries of the officers. However, the band had to stand all expenses, including £BOO. for new instruments and current liabilities. Therefore, if the people wanted bands fo piay In tho various parks it waa only a fair thing that they should receive a subsidy. The Caroline Bay Association had practically promised 3 subsidy on ' condition that no collection was taken up. Concerts were now being held on the Bay without taking collections. The Bay was the best revenue-producing resort in Timaru, and this was a good argument in favour of the band. : If the committee wanted to popularise the parks, it was up to thorn to give S' substantial Bubsidy to the band, so that collecting would not be necessary. In reply to Mr Hole, the speaker said that the present instruments, would go to a second-class band now. coming on, as a basis to work on. Mr Ruston said that if they could promise £l5O they could get eight concerts in the parks. What they wanted to get rid of was the constant begging. In reply to Mr Hay, Mr Ruston said that the band had a tantamount agreement with the Borough Council'to give a certain number of concerts in various places in the town. However, on those occasions they had a free hand in- regard to collecting. Tho chairman said that the committee was constituted to improve the parks, and not to do things that were the l job of the Borough Council. The takings this year" would not be anything like that of last year, when a queen carnival was held. He did not think that the committee could commit themselves to future liabilities. However, the matter would be discussed. The deputation then withdrew. Distribution of Funds. Correspondence was received from the West and North End Association agreeing to assist in the fete on behalf of the South End Association. Mr Gibb said that his Association would be prepared to assist provided they had

'•'.'" -,'■.' % \ ' '''' tho right to say how the proceeds were to be spent. ) ■''.'■■.'» Mr.Leggott, the secretary, stated that at the last meeting it had been agreed to allow the various Associations-to make suggestions ad to the. spending of tho proceeds. Mr Benstead said thaf they should work on tho Me lines as the Caroline-Bay Association, and go to the Borough- Council with proposals for improvement, with which,, he thought,' the-Council .would be only too pleased to acquiesce. The chairman said that the present position was that the committee had control of the whole of the proceeds, but that the money was divided into three equal parts, to he spent on tho improvement of the west, north, and south parks. What he wanted to know was; who wbb to have the spending of the money—the committee or the Ratepayers' Associations. Mr Hay moved: "That this committee retain its individuality, and have control of the money." Mr Mathers seconded tho motion. Mr Hole moved as an amendment that the profits he divided into three equat parts and given to tho Associations for expenditure on their respective parks. The chairman seconded the amendment. Mr Gibb said that •so long as his Association had a say in tho expenditure of the profits be was satisfied. On being put to the meeting,' the amendment was lost and the motion carried. 'Regarding the date of the fete, the chairman said that the committeo had recommended March 12th as the most suitable date. Mr Harper thought that this would not agree very well with- tho visit of the Duke of York, which would take place a weok later. He thought March sth a better date. It was decided to hold the fete on this date. . ' <- It was resolved to refer the programme for the fete .to a sub-committee consisting of two representatives of each of the Ratepayers' Associations and the chairman. In discussing the representations of the band deputation, the chairman thought the best course was to give a contribution which would depend on what profit was made. After some discussion the matter was referred to the execuitvo for a report, i