QUEEN CARNIVAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24400, 11 September 1940, Page 8

QUEEN CARNIVAL

REGAL REVUE TO-NIGHT

ATMOSPHERE LACKING CAMPAIGN IN DUNEDIN APPEAL FOR GREATER SUPPORT PUBLIC APATHY DEPLORED “We have not yet been able to create an atmosphere in the city, and we are not going to succeed with the oueen carnival unless the public learns to appreciate what the funds are for, said Mr Arthur Barnett (chairman of the Queen Carnival Committee), at tire merring of, the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council yesterday afternoon. i can’t understand the people at all, ana I am beginning to feel that they do not ■ understand what ; rehabilitation means.” ; ' v Worried About Dunedin Mr Barnett was introducing the report of the Queen Carnivai Committee when he passed his strictures on the people of the city. He was not at all worried about the progress or the Ujtimate outcome of the appeal in the country districts of the Prince he said, but he was much concerned about It in the city. A beginning had been made last Friday, but it was not the success it was expected to be and was at a loss to understand why. ihe plain fact of the matter was that they were unable to create an atmosphere of the kind that prevailed during the queen carnival effort of 1915

“People are too ready to question everything. They want. to know why we are not sending Spitfires to England,” he continued. “ Others suggest that the matter of rehabilitation is the Government’s job. Honestly. I °° Do ‘ know What we are coming to. Perhaps it'is my own fault, but I have the feeling that we have not stressed the purpose of the appeal strongly enough. Perhaps a vigorous and full explanation of the need for such funds and the specific purposes for which they are required should be made by the central body.

“We must make it quite clear,” Mr Barnett said, “that all money that is contributed at the present time will be used to assist men of all branches of ♦’’c forces to return t# civil life when the war is over. “And if they realise that, we must surely get the full .support of everybody.” Huge Sums Needed Mr James Hogg said he could understand and sympathise with Mr Barnett’s attitude, but he aid not think that the Carnival Committee should be unduly discouraged. It had done magnificent work and would continue to do so. Perhaps people at the moment were too deeply engrossed in the serious nature of the conflict both in England and in the Middle East, and did not realise that huge sums of money would be required for the assistance of the returned soldiers, sailors and airmen when it was all over. What was needed was a whole-hearted effort on the part of every section and organisation represented at the meeting to give the carnival a proper fillip.

Combating Apathy

Mr James Ritchie (Vincent) said a great many people in the country did not realise the meaning of the appeal, but he had found in the country that when it was explained to them people were only tdo glad to do what they could. A Paddy’s Market had been held at Lowburn, and had realised £156. Farmers brought meat and paid a shilling a pound to take it home again. There was no need to worry about the country. Mr J. M. White said what they needed was to combat the apathy, and he thought that this could be done by broadcasting by men conversant with what happened in the last war. At the end of 1918 the,previous Patriotic Fund disbursed £29,500 on clothing allowances alone, and be felt that the position would be improved if the public could be convinced of the deficit in the previous funds, and the /.greater need this time. iV’-l'.. Pinpricking Alleged ,-Mr Barnett complained of certain • pinpricking tactics, and said that in the 1915 effort there was a tramway queen, -ahd' the tramwaymeri did wonderful work. This time they were doing nothing because the City Council . would not permit the sale of. tickets on trams. .- Mr H. L. Gibson (chairman of the Council Tramways Committee) said he tesented the suggestion of pmpncking. Everybody bad to be considered in such things, he said. .. The .committee had regarded the sale of tickets on trams to people going to and from work as objectionable, and thought that it should not be allowed. Mr D. C. Cameron said the city trading departments had made substantial gifts and donations for raffling. The Tramways Department gave concessions to the uniformed forces, and the Electricity Committee had given .£SO worth of goods. He thought the council was doing its best.

Personal Objections Deplored

Mr W. R. Clarke deplored the effect of personal objections and feeling on the general effort to raise funds. What did it matter if a few people did not like this or that? They should not be considered at the expense of the movement in which the council was engaged. The question of the sale of tickets by the tramwaymen and the holding of Sunday night concerts should be looked at from the broad viewpoint, and not with reference to the scruples of a few. _ It was c ab surd at this juncture to object to night concerts because they hurt the sensibilities of a few There were probably a lot of people who objected to the Salvation Army Band m the streets on a Sunday night. In the presen l conflict there was no room for such pettiness, and it was time it was thrown overboard, and every possible means of raising funds exploited to The Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) said there could be no doubt that theie was some underlying feeling permeating the public and affecting their reaction lo the appeal. He did not know what it was. but be could say that it was by no means peculiar to Dunedin. It was being experienced all over the Dominion. Certainly it was not the fault of Mr Barnett or his committee, because, as they all knew, that organisation had done great work. Use of Press Referring to,the City Council’s attitude, and the suggestion that there was pin-pricking, the Mayor said that the council would do everything it could to further the campaign, but there were some matters of principle which had to be considered. He did not propose to discuss them there, because there were manyother ways in which the sympathy and support of the public could be enlisted. Personally, he thought that the best use was not being made of the press for publicity. He did nol doubt that the press was sympathetic, taut very little of what was being done, or attempted, appeared prominently in the newspapers. He was inclined to think that it was their own fault, and he suggested that every effort should be made in the future to gain the fullest co-operation of the press. No means or avenue of publicity—good publicity —should be neglected, and every opportunity should be grasped of impressing upon people the rehabilitation aspect of the whole effort. If the council stirred itself it would soon have the nublic behind it. “What Dunedin should do is take 'to heart the example of Lowburn Ferry. That little spot has been known to most of us for years as comprising a. ‘ pub ’ and a policeman, and yet it can raise £156 in a,day at a Paddy’s Market,” Mr Allen concluded.

BRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT PROMISED LOWER PRICED SEATS AVAILABLE Under the auspices of the Otago Queen Carnival Executive, the Regal Introductory Revue will be presented in His Majesty’s Theatre to-night. This novel entertainment, which is being lavishly mounted, will include a wealth of local talent, and will provide a fitting accompaniment to the official introduction of the three services queens to their supporters. The queens— Misses Mary Pratt, Jessie McLennan and Airini Grennell—representing the Air Force, navy and army respectively. will not only be introduced, but will be seen in a special Air Force, Navy and Army tableau. In addition, each will be heard in solo performances, Miss Pratt singing ‘‘Cam’ Ye By Athol,” Miss McLennan rendering “ Mariners of England ” and ' Tiss Grennell “ Roses of Picardy.” Details of the programme will be found in the advertising columns, but attention can be drawn to a special presentation, claimed to be something different, “The Drawing Room of a Dunedin Home,” which will give the whole story of the carnival, and will be enacted by many well-known local personalities. » The musical side of the night’s offering will be strong, and items will be given by the Regimental Band (by permission of the officer commanding), the Kaikorai Band and the Dunedin Orphans’ Club Orchestra. The proceedings will be officially opened by the Mayor (Mr A". H. Allen), and all money received will go to the rehabilitation fund for Otago’s fighting men. Two shilling and one shilling seats will be available from 7 p.m. The box plan will be at the theatre from 7.15 p.m. VICTORY STREET DAY APPEAL On Friday there will be a street day appeal, bearing the designation Victory Street Day Appeal. The objective aimed at is £2OOO, which will be devoted to the rehabilitation fund. An army of “ workers for victory ” will be on the streets early in the morning, and the public will be able to purchase badges of varying sizes, in accordance with the extent of each individual contribution.

The. dug-out in the Octagon will be open all day, and the public will be able to make purchases at reasonable prices. Many novel attractions are being arranged. NAVY QUEEN RAFFLES The following are the results of raffles conducted on behalf of the Navy Queen:—No. 32, knitting bag. winner No. 14—Mrs M. Collier. Manor place; No. 38, cleaning man’s suit, No. 80 — Mr Ibbotson, R.S.A. Club. Prizes may be collected at Messrs Chas. Begg and Co.. Ltd. NAVY QUEEN COMMUNITY SING The first of the weekly Navy Queen community sings took place yesterday at the St. James Theatre. The crowded house enjoyed an entertaining and novel programme. The ‘ sing was in charge of Mr J. McFarlane, who was attired as the captain, “ Spud ” Murphy appeared as the captain’s daughter. During the “sing Miss Jessie McLennan, the Navy Queen, was introduced to the audience, and was given a rousing reception. The proceeds amounted to .lust on £IOO. A further navy sing will be held next Tuesday.

MOSGIEL COMMITTEE CARNIVAL ARRANGEMENTS A meetiyg of the Mosgiel District Patriotic Committee, presided over by the Mayor (Mr W. P. Hartstonge) was held last night to make arrangements for the forthcoming Queen Carnival. The meeting was attended by Messrs Wight and Kennedy, of the Air Force Queen Co-ordinating Committee. Three sub-committees were set ’up to deal with raffles, the proposed stock drive, and entertainments, and these committees will commence to function immediately. It was decided to urge Mosgiel residents to, purchase art union tickets from Air Force Queen supporters only, Mosgiel being in her area. *