CARNIVAL COMMITTEE

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 230, 19 June 1915, Page 4

CARNIVAL COMMITTEE

The first meeting of the Carnival Committee was held at the Supper Room, at th Q Town Hall last night, when a good attendance was present. The chair was occupied by the Mayor (Mr A. L. Arrowsmith) and Beveral apologies for unavoidable absenoe were conveyed to the meeting. The Mayor said the first matter for consideration was the appointment of a secretary for the Carnival: They required a capable officer. Mr James propsed that Mr Evans should be appointed. He made this suggestion with the full knowledge of the work entailed and wished it understood that he considered the position should be more than an honorary one. The work of the Carnival Committee would be of such magnitude as to be altogether too much to ask of an honorary position. He thought £4 or £5 would not be an excessive salary Mr McLennan considered that salary to be a fair remuneration, and he seconded the motion. Mr McCormick moved an amendment that applications should be called for the position. They would then have a selection. Mr Thurston said in getting a secretary they needed to be very careful securing a good man for the position, as it was a most important one.

Mr Bray thought they were advancing too fast. They did not know what Mr Evans would do. If they had applications it would give them a choice.

Mr James considered that this action would entail too much delay. It was highly probable that in a week or ten days the position would be the same as now. The position would be as organising secretary with clerical and accountancy assistance Mr McLennan said it was imperative that they secure a good man, and his opinion was that they should send the secretary to Wellington to interview the secretary of the Wellington Carnival.

Mr Evans said he realised it was not a light position and if applications were called he 'would apply for the position. He. felt that it was incumbent upon all to do their utmost for thi3 deserving causae".

Mr McCormick sasd that with the permission of his seconder, Mr Thurston, he woud withdraw his amendment. Ha [had frothing against Mr Evans, but was desirous that everything should be done to mak e the Carnival a success. The motion appointing Mr Evans secretary to the Carnival was then carried unanimously. Mr S. Beban proposed that the salary be fixed at- £5 per week, with travelling expenses. Mr De Latour seconded this motion.

Mr Bray thought they were plunging into too big a liability at once, for the present. He moved, to test the feeling of the meeting, that the secretary be paid £3 a week and travelling expenses. Mr McCormick advocated caution, and said that at the end of the Carnival there would not be sufficient to. meet the outlay. Mr McLennan said he woulif second Mr Bray's motion.pro forma.to test the feeling of the meeting, but when they came to consider the number of committees that would be appointed; and he hoped would be working, all of which would be looking up ot the secretary, who would have to go to all the outlying places to organise something in each place; he would be at the beck and call of everybody,and taking everything into consideration the secretary might be out of pocket at any remuneration less than the £5. Mr James said he would like to see office accommodation found in addition to travelling expenses.

The Mayor said there was no need to add anything for office accommodation. He might say that Mr. Neagle had offered a room in his building. There was also a room known as the Mayor's Room which would be available. Being on the ground floor it might be more suitable than one upstairs. Anyway, there was no need to bother about office accommodation.

The resolution that the secretary bo paid £5 a week and travelling expenses was then adopted. The Mayor said that while the question of secretary was on they should appoint an assistant. Mr. Drayton had offered his services, and he moved that Mr. Drayton, be appointed.—Carried.

The Mayor also thought that they should have recognised posting places where notices could be displayed. It would be good for people who did not get the newspaper if these could be arranged so as to make the thing wider known. He moved that Messrs. Dashwood, Sherwin, and Champion be asked for posting room in theii- shop windows. He thought these three would be enough.—Carried. Mr. McLennan thought a small executive should be appointed, one that could be got together at short notice to deal with extraordinary cases that needed immediate attention.

Mr. Beban agreed with this, and moved that a committee of /ivo be appointed, eonaiatiiig of M>»st3. ' James, Metaughlaa,- be' tautour; Bray; ?.rt& Me- 1 Lea?»aa,> the 'SEayor and sHrat*T?y a».ex-officte members.

Tlw? Mayo* questioned.''"' whtttiM** it -svoiiM tt'gfc'lwi better to put j^U-ftgeV

jnon on the executive; htf wanted* ts have the best. Ther e was a* fkx&sibilfty that he might find that he would have to retire altogether from the Committee in a short time—that was one reason why he thought that he should not be included in the executive.

Mr. Bray thought the number insufficient and he moved that the number be 10 instead of five. On a show of hands the resolution for five was adopted. Mr. McLennan said the public had been talking about the Carnival but nobody seemed to know what was going to be done. He thought the secretary should write to the secretary of the Carnival in Wellingon asking for information, and should go to Wellington, as he would get more information from being on the spot, enquiring and seeing for himself; he would pick up information he could hot otherwise get. He moved in that direction. Mr. Bray seconded. He thought that if they were going to do it at all It was worth doing well; he was sure the fund would benefit by such a course being adopted. The Mayor thought it was almost impossible to organise without some information from being on the spot in Wellington.

Mr. McLennan said that when the secretary returned he would place all the data before the Committee and will tell them how to go about it, then they could get to work. At present they were only groping in the dark.

The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. Cunninghame thought they should arrange a /date for the nomeeting. Mr. Aldridge suggested Friday evening next. Mr. McLennan considered they should have it earlier, aa they to avoid delay. Mr. Beban considered Thursday was too soon as it did not leave a margin in case of a hitch in arrangements. Mr. James seconded the motion of Mr. Aldridge that the meeting should take place next Friday evening.—Carried.

The following gentlemen were added to-the Committee: Messrs. J. Webb, J. Champion, F. Baird, W. Sexton, W. Jorgensen, P'l- E. Wakemanv