THE GALA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 124, 7 March 1936, Page 6

THE GALA.

Sir, —As one who was associated with the Gala 'Committee for some years, I wish to state a few facts and express views somewhat contrary to those published in the “Guardian” on Thursday. I think I can do so without offending anyone. For the first few years the Gala held public interest, good weather prevailed, and money was plentiful, with; resultant success. For the last live years or more, general conditions have been»bad. and doubtful weather has been the rule. In addition, fewer workers appeared, adding to the difficulties. The cash section of the sports has been generally blamed for the decline, and in my opinion quite wrongly. With few exceptions the programme has not comprised more than eight cash track events, and at its best the whole Gala programme was not as varied as at Southbridge, and about the same in prize-money. Last year the net cost of the cash events was approximately £35 ; in good times about £75. The main revenue has always come from gate money, and good-class pingrammes have been the attraction. I do not think the Gala would have done as well as it did with a reduced, or picnic, programme. Anyway, Ashburton should be able to run a sports meeting equal at least to a small place like Southbridge. Many people still think that the cash sports cost over £IOO, which has never been the case. The sports have paid handsomely. The side-shows have not at any time provided the main source of revenue, unless the Queen Carnival year be excepted. Admittedly, they are the, hardest section, and the work is sometimes difficult, but I feel sure sideshows must have a good main attraction to support them. The Gala eventually suffered from lack of novelty sideshows, and there is not a really novel one in the Dominion at present. The many excellent workers on sideshows may have been disappointed with results in recent years, but conditions were against them, and likewise against the stalls. Some years ago one ice cream stall took £lOl, and later took £6B. The money has not been available during the past five years to provide such splendid returns. The overhead cost of the Gala did not receive proper attention at the beginning. It was pointed out to the A.A.A. years ago that some system of centrai control was necessary. Nothing was done. For several years the Gala committee did not have more than nominal control of expenditure, as sub-committees incurred expenditure independently. A few years ago the approximate costs of some items were: Printing and advertising, £52; erection of stalls and sideshows £7B; provisioning stalls and side shows £191; lighting, etc., £36. Some of this expenditure could have been curtailed. Erection of stalls and sideshows alone over the years has cost hundreds of pounds, and even now the A.A.A. has very little equipment. When a Supplies Committee was instituted in 1931 several reductions were made, and incidentally it proved, that some of the minor sideshows did not pay. Had a unified system of control'been started i<n the second year of the Gala, later results would have been better. A combination of circumstances has contributed to the decline, some of which could not be controlled by any committee, but several effective steps could have been taken in the early stages to control overhead costs. The Gala has been the means of circulating a large amount of money in Ashburton, and will do so in future if it is supported. E. J. O’BRIEN.