WAIOMIO CARNIVAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5512, 11 December 1929, Page 3

WAIOMIO CARNIVAL.

OPPOSITION ON PLAINS. DEFERRED INDEFINITELY. So little support for the proposed queen carnival on the Hauraki Plains in conjunction with the Thames and Thames Valley effort to raise funds for the purchase of a park-at Waiomio was apparent on Monday evening, when a meeting was held at Ngatea, that the project was deferred indefinitely.

Circulars had been sent to every ratepayer in the county west of the Piako River and to many residents who were not ratepayers, but only 17 attended the meeting in response, and it was Apparent that most of these had attended to oppose the queen carnival. There were present Mesdames Parfitt, 'Motion, Sydenham, Donaghy, Waite, Williams, Miss Donaghy, Messrs C. W. Parfitt, J. Motion, F. Basham, E. A. Mahoney, J. Neate, J. Donaghy, JDarlington, H. Dent, M. Williams, and H. Torr.

Mr Parfitt, who was elected to preside, apologised for the .absence of Cr. C. W. Harris, county chairman, and explained the purpose of the meeting, which was to discuss ways and means of raising a share of the £1550 required to purchase and £5OO necessary to improve an area at Waiomio, Thame Coast. It had been suggested that a queen carnival be held, and the meeting was for the purpose of select- ' ing a queen to represent the western side of the Piako River. He would be pleased to receive nominations and suggestions. After a long pause Mr Neate asked what lead was the council giving. Cr. Parfitt said that he could not speak for the council, but he did know that several councillors were prepared to make substantial donations. His view of the position was that, having been asked to contribute, the people of the Plains should contribute, otherwise they would feel intruders if they used the park at Waiomio. Mr Dent voiced strong opposition to the queen carnival, and said that the district should first consider its own position in regard to recreation grounds. -He was sure Thames would not assist a Plains; effort, and pointed out that the Thames ratepayers had turned down a loan for the purpose.. It would be reasonable to encourage people to Waiomio and then collect from them, but to plunge the district into a queen carnival would be unsound. Mr Donaghy asked who had drafted the circulars sent to ratepayers, and who paid for them. The chairman said that the county clerk had done the work. Mr Dent said he was right opposed to contributing to anything outside the . county. The chairman pointed out that there ' were already three public domains on the Plains. Mr Mahoney said that Mr Dent had been wrong in stating that Thames ratepayers had turned down a loan. This was the Thames County ratepayers. Mr Darlington suppored Mr Dents views, and said he did not think a queen carnival would be supported by the people of the Plains. Mr Dent asked if it was not a fact that Paeroa was. remaining aloof. The chairman said he understood ..from the Mayor of Thames that Paeroa people proposed supporting the Thames Valley queen. Mr Neate asked who were the representatives of the council who had . the support of the Plains at .Thames. \ Cr. Parfitt said that the whole council had unanimously decided to go into the matter. Mr Dent asked if the scheme was not outside the scope of the council. It was the first time he had heard of such a thing, and would suggest that the council had exceeded the part it had been elected by the people to do. Mr Mahoney said that the council as the controlling authority in the district had been approached as there was no other body which could be approached. The council had not committed the ratepayers to anything. The chairman asked whether someone would move a resolution expressing favour or otherwise with the proposal to acquire the area. Mr Donaghy said that the meeting was not a very representative one, and it would probably be wise to adjourn. Mr Basham pointed out that a circular letter had been sent to every ratepayer on the western side of the Piako River and to many others who were not ratepayers. The smallness of the attendance was an indication of apathy, and from the views expressed he was rather afraid to move a motion favouring the project. Mr Motion moved, and Mr Torr seconded, a motion favouring a queen carnival effort after Christmas. Mr barlington moved that the decision be deferred until a future date, when a more representative meeting was held to test the feeling of ratepayers. In reply to Mrs Motion the chairman said that the Plains quota should be about £5OO. Mr Mahoney said that this worked out at about 10s per head. The amendment, on a show of hands, was carried by eight votes to five, and the meeting was adjourned until a later date to be arranged. In expressing thanks for the attendance Mr Parfitt asked those who opposed the project not to work against it.