DIVERTING TRADE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 88, 4 December 1931, Page 5

DIVERTING TRADE

CARNIVAL X'MAS EVE RETAIL TRADERB PROTEST AGAINST STREET ATTR ACTION S I ' COUNCIL DISCUSSION . When the Rotorua Borough Council at its meeting last evening was considering the programme for the New Year Carnival, Cr. O. H. Goleman inquired whether an objection had been lodged by'the Retail Traders' Association against the proposal to pax*ade an orchestra and pierrots through the streets on Christmas Eve in order to announce the opening of the carnival. ■The Town Clerk (Mr. W. A. McLean) , said he had received no communication from the association, but the chairman of the Publicity and Amusements Committee, Cr. L. J. Bayfield, said he. understood that the association's objection would come before his committee at its meeting the following evening. It was suggested that the matter be left to the committee, but Cr. Coleman said that he would first like an assurance from the chairman that the Retailers' protest would he sympathetically regarded by the committee. Otherwise he preferred that the matter he dealt with by the council as a, whole. Bivert Trade The retailers had lodged their protest, Councillor Goleman continued, on the grounds that any proeession or counter attraction in the streets or> Christmas Eve would divert the people from the shops and decrease the volume of business. Christmas Eve was tlie shopkeepers' biggest evening of the year and it was a vital matter that they should be given every opportunity to do as much business as possible. An atraction in the streets on that evening would make a tremendous difference to business and the retailers most strenuously opposed the idea. Very Small Affair. Cr, Bayfeild said that no proeession was intended. It would be a very s'mall affair consisting of three decorated lorries and was intended pure--ly to advertise the advent of the carnival. The committee had carefully considered the viewpoint of the: shopkeepers when drafting the programme and had been at pains to see' that business would not be affected. Harvest Time Cr. Coleman said that more business was done by the shopkeepers on; Christmas Eve between 7 p.m. and: elosing time, than on any other day; in the year. It was their harvest time; and should not be interfered with. The' retailers were all ratepayers, and*: heavy ratepayers, and deserved every consideration. The matter was very serious and the shopkeepers could not allow it to go past without vigorQus protest. He considered that the committee's proposal would most certainly divert business from the shops. Cl'osing of Streets It was pointed out by the Town Clerk that this matter also had ? hearing upon a further suggestion by the Publicity and Amusements Committee to the effect that certain portions of the streets should be closed for daneing at half hour intervals

on Christmas Eve. Mr. Coleman said he was very strongly opposed to this proposal. The council could hold evening attractions on any other night in the year, but the interests of the shopkeepers, it should not interfere with Christmas Eve. Cr. W. Galbraith supported Cr. Goleman and endorsed his views. Cr. E. T. Johnson said that if the elosing of the streets was deleted, he could not see that the proeession of three lorries would affect the shopkeepers' business. Refuse to Approve The Mayor said that he thought that the Publicity and Amusements Committee would be very sympathetically disposed towards the request of the retailers, but he did not think that Cr. Bayfeild could be asked to give an assurance that his committee would view the protest one way

or another. Personally, he thought that the council should definitely take up the attitude that it refused to approve the elosing of the streets in Christmas Eve. It could then be left to the committee to formulate suit-

able proposals for that evening. Cr. Galbraith moved that the po tion of the committee's report ,*ecommending the proeession of lorries and the announcement of the Carnival be deleted. Seconding the motion Cr. Coleman said that he regretted having to advocate the deletion of a elause in the committee's report after the tremendous amount of trouble it had taken to draw up a programme, but the matter was one of such importance to the shop-keepers that he could not let it pass by.

Advertise Carnival Cr Johnson said that Christmas Eve when a large erowd would be in town, was an exeellent opportunity to advertise the commeneement of the carnival. He thought that the daneing and music might help to create the carnival atmosphere "and by encouraging the holiday spirit in the people assist rather than interfere with trade. He moved, as an amendment, that the Council definitely grant permission for the elosing of streets on Christmas Eve, but that the retnainder of the committee's recommendation be discussed by the Publicity and Amusement committee at its meeting to-night. Cr Bayfield in seconding the amendment, said that the committee would do its best to meet the shopkeepers and might even agree to def er the proeession of the lorries until after 10 o'clock. At the same time, Christmas Eve was an exeellent opportunity to advertise the carnival, and the committee wished to take advantage of the fact. Cr Urquhart also supported the amendment. Strong opposition was again voiced by Cr. Coleman, who contended that the people who spent in Rotorua on Christmas Eve, were chief ly the country people passing through. If they were drawn away by amusements in the streets, they might forget their

shopping and would not have another opportunity of carrying it out. In his experience, distractions of the sort proposed, would he a very serious thing to the retailers. The Mayor supported the amendment which, on being put to the meeting, was carried with Crs. Galbraith and Coleman dissenting.