TWO CENTENNIAL PROCESSIONS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25889, 23 August 1949, Page 6

TWO CENTENNIAL PROCESSIONS

GROWTH OF PROVINCE; FLORAL PAGEANT

Canterbury as a whole will stage at least two centennial processions in Christchurch during the celebrations of 1950-51. A cavalcade in December next year will show the development of the province in floats depicting historical incidents, cultural activities, transport, primary production industry, public services, Government departments, and other features. A floral pageant will be held late in February, 1951. The centennial processions committee confirmed the arrangement of two such efforts yesterday morning. It was explained that the “hundred years’ of progress” theme would be linked as closely as possible to the actual centennial anniversary and that the procession of floral floats would be held separately to give more scope for display in a season when flowers would be more plentiful. The services of a designer to prepare basic plans for procession floats will be secured. The Canterbury Institute of Architects, the Canterbury Society of Arts, and the School of Art. have agreed to co-operate in these preparations; but the committee considered that a co-ordinating designer should be in charge. Executive officers of the committee will prepare for next meeting a list of about 70 floats proposed for the main procession with their probable sponsors. In securing sponsors, it was suggested that the organisers should approach organisations and firms with , some definite activity to portray, and leave the retailers’ group to assist in promoting the floral pageant.

The committee received advice from the Government that an inter-depart-mental organisation dealing with State representation in all processions and exhibitions would co-operate in the Canterbury effort. The pageant later in the centennial summer will rely almost entirely on flowers for decoration. It is hoped that firms and others will sponsor the more ambitious floats: but provision will nrobably be made for private vehicles decorated with flowers. A proposal has been made that the floats should go to some woodland setting where maypole and folk dancing could be held.

The general public will be urged to wear and use flowers profusely during this week. Next spring suggestions lor planting colourful centennial displayswill be published. Apart from extra sowings to be made by the City Council to provide the thousands of flowers required, private gardeners will be invited to contribute blooms for special decorative purposes. Flowers for Christchurch will be grown in other parts and some provincial centres have offered to send floral floats. The centennial flower show wil] coincide with the week of the floral pageant.