NO SPEECHES DURING VISIT OF ROYALTY

Grey River Argus, 12 October 1948, Page 2

NO SPEECHES DURING VISIT OF ROYALTY

Programme for West Coast Visit

There would be no speeches during the visit of the King and Queen arm . t.ncvss Margaret to Greymouth next March. me iviayui mix *. r Boustridge) at a meeting of the Royal tL sit Committee last night, lie was lepuiting on the recent visit to Greymouth of the Secretary for Internal Affairs (Mr J. W. Heenan), to arrange details for the Royal visit. Mr Boustridge said that the route and site —the Recreation Ground —had been approved. The Royal party would reach Greymouth from Westport about 6 p.m. on March S and would fulfil no engagements that night. They would be received by the Mayor and Town Clerk. A public reception would be held at the Recreation Ground at 10 a.m. on March 9, and if wet it would have to be held mdoors, probably the Regent Theatre. He said a dais w’ould be erected on the Recreation Ground. The party ox this would be ten of the Royal party, and the Mayor and Mayoress, the Town Clerk and his wife, and the councillors and their wives of the Greymouth Borough Council, the Mayo s and their wives of the Hokitika Ross, Kumara, Runanga and Brunner Borough, the chairmen and their wives, of the Grey and Westland County Councils and the President Oi the R.S.A. and his wife.

GIFTS MAY BE PRESENTED Mr Boustridge said that if it was decided to present an address, a draft copy had to be submitted to tne Department of Internal Affairs by October 31. It would be possible to make a suitable gift presentation to 'r'heix- Majesties. Bands would have to be congregated on the ground, and the children were to be placed in front of the adults and not congregated en block. Seats would be provided on the ground for elderly people, and members of the R.S.A. would form three sides of a square around the seats. The transport of the children, he said, would be in the hands of the Education Department. He added that Mr Heenan had agreed that “Miss Westland” (Miss Betty Howat) should present a bouquet to the Queen and a girl guide one to Princess Margaret. Miss Howat had written accepting the honour. Immediately following the reception the Royal party would leave Greymouth. Mr Boustridge said the arrangements were still subject to confirmation, and a few alterations might yet have to be made.

BILLETING CHILDREN In order to ensure that children from lons distances would be able to join in the reception, Mr Boustridge suggested that the people of Greymouth should billet the children on the night of March 8. A committee of school teachers was appointed to report on the question of billeting the children from outlying districts in Greymouth as suggested. It was decided to prepare a draft address, signed by Mayors and chairmen of boroughs and county councils for presentation to the King. A subcommittee was appointed to decide, on the form of a gift for Their MajesMr Boustridge reported that indications were that a sum of £l3zo would be received from local bodies and the L.V.A. Of this, £6OO would be spent on fireworks, and the balance of £725 for decorations, meals etc. The meeting decided to hold . the fireworks display on Tuesday night, B. beginning at 8 o clock The next meeting will be held on November 8.