AFTER A WEEK'S CARNIVAL

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21319, 12 November 1934, Page 10

AFTER A WEEK'S CARNIVAL

DIVERSE MEMORIES THE CITY RETURNS TO WORK No other city in New Zealand abandons itself like Christchurch to the enjoyment of a full week of carnival, with such diverse attractions as racing and trotting meetings and the show, giving each day an excuse to be made a holiday. In Auckland or Wellington a race meeting or a show is a matter for only a section of the community: in Christchurch everybody either welcomes the fever, or is unable to avoid it. But because the enjoyment is greater the return to the common way of life is a more definite break. It is done grudgingly by some, thankfully by others, but for nearly everybody there are threads to be picked up. . On the human side there are accounts to be balanced. The sporting enthusiast may have been lucky. His week has swelled his pocket book, and even if the swelling is only small it is pleasant to contemplate. The ordinary man is satisfied if he "comes out square," but very little more than that can cause a great deal of satisfaction. The man who loses little comforts himself with the thought that he has had his fun, but the consistent loser is likely to say, "Never again."

The Show Exhibitor The exhibitor who has won prizes or commendation at the show has a justifiable pride in his achievement. The unsuccessful exhibitor may have learned something that will help him to success next time, and even if he is disappointed or dissatisfied with the result, he has been provided with an inexhaustible source of talk—and in the country a fruitful topic of conversation is valuable. Even the winner of sideshow prizes has his table ornament or has had his tin of sweets, and the sideshow proprietor has his shillings. Through the racing and trotting meetings and the show, many persons have found employment, and for some of them it is not yet over. A crowd causes a great deal of litter, and the crowds this year were unusually large. Totalisator tickets, paper bags, and newspapers have been freely scattered, and must be picked up patiently by men armed with bags and spiked sticks. Tidiness is quickly restored to the racing and trotting grounds, but it takes a little longer to remove all traces of the annual occupation from the show ground. Stock, implements, trade displays, and sideshow equipment disappear on the first day, and booths are quickly dismantled, and sheds cleaned and locked up.

The Holiday Mood Even those who had no interest in the main events of the week partook of the carnival mood because of Friday's holiday. And the mood of that day carried over to Saturday afternoon and yesterday, when, because the weather was good, countless picnic parties moved out to the beaches and other resorts. To-day everybody returns to work, but a little of the excitement of last week remains, to be kept alive and heightened by the thought that when Carnival Week has passed, Christmas is not far behind.