Celebration Plans

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 67, 6 April 1937, Page 4

Celebration Plans

C0R0NATI0N, AND JUBILEE Mayor Outlines Civic Programme APPEAL T0 EMPL0YERS "It would seem that it is not the intention of the Government to declare Coronation Day a close holiday, but merely leave it to the discretion of the einployers," said the Mayor of Hastings, Mr. G. A. Maddison this morning when commenting to a Herald-Tribune representative on the civic plans for the combined Coronatiom and borougli jubilee celebrations in Hastings, During the past few weeks, he said, the plans had been very carefully con* sidered, and though there were many matters that had yet to be decided it was not possible to give a general ontline of the forms of celebration. The Coronation ceremony will take place at Nelson Park on Wednesday, May 12, commencing at 10.30 o'clock in the morning. School children, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, returned soldiers, war veterans, all military nnits and friendly societies representatives are to be invited to take part in the assemblage and the celebrations generally. Mr. Maddison eaid that it was intended that there should be a procession headed by the Hastings Citizens' Band, the Pipe Band, Mayor a|id councillors, through the main street and along to Nelson Park, where there would be public addresses by th® Mayor and other speakeris, and after-, wards there would bo a march-past of all those in the procession. Memento for Children, It was intended that each child taking part should be presented with some memento of the occaBiou, but as the Government had intimated that it intended to make some such presentation after Coronation Week it was not considered necessary to .duplicate this " expense. However, every child in the procession was to be provided with a fiag, and this would .make the procession a colourful and speetacular one. Though Coronation Day had not been declared a holiday, the Mayor intends to invite all industries and business to close down for the day and so enable all the people of the town to participate in the celebrations, The representatives of the various churches are to be invited to conduct a combined service, or perhaps conduct speeial services in their own churches on eitber May 9 or May 16. In the event of a combined service -being favoured this will take place in the Munfcipal Theatre. "A speeial effort is .being made to have, if possible, the whole town decorated uniformjy," said Mr Maddison. "The Municipal Buildings, clock tower. women 's rest and other. municipal buildings will be decorated, and the co-operation of the business people is being sought to have the decoration of the main street, in particular, carried out along the lines of a definite scheme. An appeal is also to be made to the people to decorute their private homes in some manner so as to create a tnjlv patriotic atmosphere." Mr Maddison added that a committee had been set np to arrange a fancydress ball or a party on the afternoon of Ooronation Day or during Coronation Week. This gathering would be under the supervision of the Mayoress, Mrs G. A. Maddison, the wives of the councillors, and other women, and the expense would. be met by the Borough Council. Dancing in the Street. In the evening there would be a Coronation Ball in the Assembly Hall, and the question of closing Heretaunga street from Hastings street to Nelson street to vehicular traffic was being considered, as it was hoped that tbo services of the bands would be obtained and that there would be dancing in the street and other forms of amusement and entertainment in keeping with the celebration atmosphere. The Hawke's Bay Electric Power Board had confirmed its intention of supplying eurrent at one penny a unit to business premises desiring speeialdisplays, and Mr Maddison expressed the hope that the business people would take full advantage of this very generous offer. On the day following Coronation Day, it was hoped, the Hastings Rugby Football Sub-Union would arrange a speeial match at Nelson Park, and the Townswomen's Guild had undertaken to stage an historical pageant in the Municipal Theatre. Mr Maddison said that he antieipated there would be other functions and gatherings arranged very shortly appertaining to" the borough jubilee celebrations, which would be conducted in conjunction with Coronation Week, and he would make an announcement conceruing these later.