NO APATHY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24401, 12 September 1940, Page 6

NO APATHY

THE QUEEN CARNIVAL EVIDENCE OF INTEREST REPLY BY SUB-COMMITTEE The criticism by members of the Queen Carnival Committee of the lack of interest shown by the Dunedin public in the carnival has been received with strong indignation by the Food Group Sub-committee of the Navy Queen Committee which at a meeting last night expressed resentment of the remarks of Mr Arthur Barnett and other speakers at the meeting of the Patriotic Council on Tuesday. It was stated.that the accusations of miblic apathy were most unfair, and did not encourage those who were working enthusiastically in the raising of the £IOO.OOO aimed at. The Food Group Sub-committee is one of six sub-committees appointed by the Navy Queen Committee, and it embraces licensed and nrivate hotels, boardinghouses, tea rooms, restaurants, milk bars, bakers, pastrycooks, confectioners, grocers, cooked food shops, butchers, freezing works and fish shops. The district covered is from Mosgie! to Port Chalmers, and includes the Peninsula. It has been divided into 14 zones, each zone having an active band of workers operating. Speaking on behalf of his sub-com-mittee and with its full approval. Mr A. A. Paape. the chairman, said that all the 14 zones had been canvassed by members of the sub-committee and the response had been highly gratifying. Everyone was willing to assist and already 1700 books of tickets in the raffle for the house had been distributed. To stimulate interest in the sale of the sub-committee’s tickets special cash prizes had been given, and the holder of a certain ticket bought from a food shop would receive a monetary prize. Other sub-committees of the Navy Queen Committee, it was stated, were working iust as hard. “ In view of that we taire very strong exception to the tone of the remarks made by Mr Barnett and the Mayor.” Mr Paape added. “ That is a poor sort of acknowledgment of the hard, practical work we have all been outtiae in The remarks are purely and simplv ‘ croaking.’ ” said Mr Paape. “ and they are decidedly the wrong sort of thing to say.

“ We know times are hard, and that people have had many calls on their pockets. We are doing our best to work up an enthusiasm to support the Navy Queen, and we are getting that enthusiasm. And just as we are getting it Mr Barnett howls out that the public is not supporting the carnival.” Mr Paape added that the keenness of his sub-committee and of the other sub-committee would not be affected by what he described as an unfortunate outburst. “If we can nut the Navy Queen on top. we shall.” he said, “and we know we are going to get the full support of those whose votes will put her there.”

HELP OF THE PRESS CO-OPERATION. APPRECIATED STATEMENT BY PUBLICITY OFFICER No complaint with the assistance given to the Queen Carnival Committee by the Dunedin press was made by Mr L. H. Frude, publicity officer for the committee, when the criticism by the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), at Tuesday’s meeting of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council was referred to him yesterday. On the other' hand, he expressed appreciation at the help which he had received from the newspapers. “ The amount of free publicity given the Queen Carnival,” said Mr Frude, “has set a new standard in press cooperation. In to-day’s press the Queen Carnival in particular and the Patriotic Council in general have had considerable space—space which to the papers is valuable.”

Mr Frude said he had one paper before him in which there were no fewer than 13 bold headings, and all at the top of columns, given to Queen Carnival matters. When asked if he thought the time was opportune to explain fully the rehabilitation aspect of, the apoeal, Mr Frude, who is a returned soldier, said he thought that some authoritative statement in plain, everyday language should be made at the first opportunity. “I consider, however, that it is.not the responsibility of the Queen Carnival Executive to undertake any public statement regarding the rehabilitation aspect.” he said, “In conclusion.” he added, “the point I wish to make clear is that so far as the Queen Carnival Executive is concerned, no avenue of publicity is being neglected, and the fullest cooperation of the nress has been established. I would like tn take this opportunity of thanking the managements. editorial, and other staffs of the newspapers for the verv willing way in which thev have come forward anil helped. As I am associated with newspaper advertising, T want to make it clea’- that no misunderstanding has been a’lnwed to creep in regarding the co-operation between the nress and the advertising firms of Dunedin.