XMAS CARNIVAL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 75, 12 December 1949, Page 4

XMAS CARNIVAL

Sir, —Would you kindly allow me a few inches of valuable space in the Beacon in order that I might undo some of the harm that I feel your well meaning leading article in the issue of the 7th inst might have done.

To put it mildly, I think that you were a /little rude to the business people of our town generally, and very rude to anyone who might have criticised the Beacon, with regard to the reporting of the activities of our last Christmas and New Year Carnival.

I do not agree with the sentiments expressed in your leading article. I appreciate the generosity of your management in assisting worthy causes just as I appreciate the generosity of all the other businessmen of this town who do I the same, with very, very few exceptions.

The subject under discussion is “the lack of support for our Carnival.” ■ V t

These gentlemen you criticise in such an indignified manner contributed over £2OO to assist the Committee (organised through the .Chamber of Commerce) which conducted last year’s Carnival.

I know that when the collectors do their rounds again this year the same generous response will be forthcoming. ; Your main point is that the public meeting as advertised in your paper was not supported. Now, Mr Editor, were you there? If not, why not? I was not there myself, and I have a good excuse. Believe me, we shall have a carnival in spite of the fact that you and I did not attend that particular meeting. As far as the children are concerned it will be a better Xmas Carnival than ever. You must not forget the splendid support last year’s committee 'received from the mothers of Whakatane. These ladies made up costumes, dressed the children, and transported them along to the procession. They Entered into the spirit of the carnival and that is what -we want.

I don’t think you observed '“Russ” Chapman open up his Grand The.atre after the pictures in the pouring rain on last New Year’s , Eve and conduct & concert till midnight, assisted by voluntary artists and the Ruatoki school children.

If don’t, think you noticed the members of the Legion of Prontiersmen who voluntarily directed traffic on that same New Year’s Eve and were rewarded with a good wetting for their trouble. I*®have selected these few. examples' (there are many others) -to support my case that I think you were a little too tough in your general criticism of the Whakatane' people. This is a small, very, active community, with perhaps, rather, too •many organisations small population to support. People therefore are a little reluctant to rush into something new way of a jpb. Eiowever, I feel sure that we will be alright in the long run. Wish you a Merry Xmas. Yours etc., H. G. WARREN, Chairman of the Carnival Committee.