PEACE CELEBRATIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9654, 10 July 1919, Page 6

PEACE CELEBRATIONS

COMMITTEE MEETING.

PROGRAMME ARRANGED

A meeting of the representatives of the various committees in connection with tho local peace celebrations was held in the Council Chambers last evening. The Mayor (Mr 11. Galbraith) presided, ten members being present. The Mayor mentioned the matter of the.proposed concert on the evening of Friday, \)uly 18, and said it had not occurred, to him ac the time that this would be the late business night. It might he. advisaoie to reconsider the matter of holding it on the Monday

evening. He then read a telegram from "the Hon. Gr. • W. Russell (already published) regarcung the extension of the celebrations to the Monday. The Mayor said it would now be necessary to again alter their programme to extend over the two days. Mr F. W. .Watt said it would be difficult .to find a whole-day programme ibr the children on the Monday.

'Mr G, Schneider stated that the .masters of the ■schools in the Borough and surrounding districts had been called together t-o discuss the part the children. (*ould take in the celebra- ' tidns. It' had been decided to assemble I vth© children on tho railway reserve so .that they would get a good view of the proce&sion passing. Each child would be asked to bring a flag to wave. The respective schools would be .under their own teacher. In the absence of a band, it had been decided to abandon the singing by tho children when the .procession was passing. The children would later march to the Domain. It had also been considered inadvisable, owing to- the season, to hold the children's sports gathering, as this would •only be courting trouble in the nature of lllnese. It was suggested as a substitute that a continuous picture show should be held and the children admitted free in relays. An arrangement to this effect could be made with Mr A. Cooper, it was also suggested that the use of the Theatre, Royal "be obtained for' the day ; and the children could be entertained there also by a suitable programme. Some speakers could also bo asked, to address the.children, Mr (Schneider considered that a bag of eatables, ..should be given free ,ta'< each child.

Mr P» Wood said it would be no use going to- the Domain if the sports meeting waH to be abandoned.

Mr Schneider said he was speaking of the Monday.

Mr IT. Smith said lie was hoping that all the •■ celebrations, would be held on one dajjy as they could have made a jolly day out or it. Mr 1L Orr said the small attendance at the meeting showed little enthusiasm. He did not think it right that a mere handful of enthusiasts should have to make the whole of the arrangements for the Ashburton celebrations.

Mr F. Smith then read a list of names of- the executive appointed to carry out tho arrangements. He stated that it would be hard work for a ..few to undertake these. No doubt a number who were not on the executive would turn, out to be workers. Ho agreed with the sentiments of Mr Orr. An apology was then read from Mr H. Humphreys, who stated that the programme of the combined choir would be suitable for the Sunday ;night. The choir was ready to fall in with any arrangements the committee might make. 'Mr D. Montgomery said he thought Sunday night would be suitable. Mr F. Smith said he favoured having a. one-day celebration and then holding the concert on the Monday night. He thought the Committee should first decide whether the celebrations were to be on one or two days. A letter was read from the Rugby Union stating it proposed to arrange a. football match on the- Saturday afternoon. The Ma.yor explained that this would be between a soldiers' and another team. Mr Montgomery asked how it would be possible i'or tho soldiers to piny football alter partaking, of the big feast it whs intended to give them ? .(Laughter.) Mr Smith .said the first day's programme as. originally intended was to consist of- a procession, patriotic addresses, and military sports. The second day was to be devoted to the children, to conclude with the bonfuv and fireworks display: The meeting should now define its programme clearly, w.i tho public were anxious'to know wluvt the' programme would be. Mr ScluLfidcT said when the original ■programme was arranged it was anticipated that the celebrations would be held earlier. It w;is impossible now to ' keep pflopl/.' in the Oval for any length of time owing to the moisture underfoot.

Mr F. W. Watt said he could not help forming the opinion that the Monday would be a flat day. The seawon w.a's against them, and the children •could not enjoy themselves as well as on a bright sunny day. In view of the Minister's telegram, it loyally compelled them to do their best for the children o:j the Monday. To give tinchildren a bag of buns did not appeal ±6 him.

Mr Schneider said in Waimate the children's sports would be held in the street owhsg to the wet nature of the park. Mr Moatiiomery said if it happened to be wesfc the children's outing won Id be a. failure.

'The Mayor suit! if they could ytt

entertainments in both theatres it might meet the wise. Mr Schneider' said he had heard that Mr Cooper was willing to provide a free programme of pictures for the children.

On commuiieating ■ with Mr Cooper it was ascertained that ho would admit all the 'children free, $>ut a charge would lie made for, adults. He would be willing to -commence his programme lit 1.30,! and provide;, two programmes during the afternoon. xhe theatre would accommodate- 1000 for each entertainment. The charge to adults would be 6d.

A member said they should charge 2s 6d each to keep them oat and give the children a chance.

Mr Schneider said they could divide the children into two sections —pile to attend the pictures and the other an entertainment at the theatre. He mlso advocated -a- procession, of children tiirough the town in the morning. Mr Watt then moved that a cnil-drc-n's procession be held on the Monday morning, the children to be addressed, and that they be entertained in the Theatre Royal and His Majesty's during tho afternoon-

Mr Montgomery seconded the motion, which was carried.

It was decided that the Schoolmasters' Committee supervise the arrangements for the children, including the programme-

It was decided to hold the combined choirs' entertainment in the Theatre Royal on Monday evening at 7.30, and admission will be free.

The meeting then arranged that the Saturday procession would start at 10.45, and the order would be as follows:—Band, Returned Soldiers, Territorials, Cadets, Boy Scouts, Red Cross, Salvation Army Band, Friendly Societies, trades and other displays, Pipe Band, Fire Brigade, and decorated motor-ears.

. It was proposed to start the evening procession at 6.30.

Mr Smith stated that the band would be split up into three during the evening, and ..^arrangements had been made by the. Bandmaster to entertain the public right royally. :.The route of the morning procession would be from East Street to the railway station, return to Havelock Street, Bavelock Street to West Street, and thence jto the Domain gates.

The route of the evening pi'oecssion would be from tho bridge to Haveloek Street to the Borough Council Chambers.

Mr Watt reported that the lunch for the soldiers, veterans, scouts, and cadets had been arranged. Two marquees would b eerectcd in the Domain for this purpose. Mr S. Madden would supervise the catering arrangements-, . *

Messrs T. Hunter, G. Schneider. W. Anderson, J. Stewart, F. Ferriman, and Jos. Lewi's were appointed a committee to arrange n sports programme for Saturday afternoon in the Domain. The sports would be held simultaneously with the football match.

Permission was given to the Fire Brigade to employ 15 extra men for the evening • procession and fireworks display, and to have them covered by accident insurance..