1959 FLORAL SHOW TO BE “HIGHLIGHT IN N.Z.”

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28699, 24 September 1958, Page 7

1959 FLORAL SHOW TO BE “HIGHLIGHT IN N.Z.”

The Canterbury Horticultural Society’s flower show in Hagley Park next February would be the largest show of the kind ever staged in the Southern Hemisphere. the chairman of the Christchurch Floral Festival Committee (Mr T. C. Eaton) reported to a meeting of the committee last evening. “It is a tremendous effort by the society and the garden clubs.’ Mr Eaton said. ■ , The show would be held at the same spot in the -park as before but there would be a greatly enlarged area used under tents. There would also be outdoor shows.

“It will be the highlight of New Zealand for that, particular week and we are lucky to have such a large show to hinge our festival on,” he said.

The festival week next year will begin on Monday, February 23, and end on Sunday, March 1. Last evening’s business was mainly consideration of sub-com-mittee reports on various events to be held in a considerably extended floral festival season in February. Already, six months’ investigation, study and preparation had gone into the 1959 festival, it was reported. The object of the organising committee is to cultivate a festive season jn Christchurch each February to attract visitors from New Zealand and overseas with the idea of stimulating trade. Proposals

Among subjects discussed were the proposed inter-denomina-tional church service, open-air dancing, floodlighting and building decorations, set pieces, procession, general programme, advertising. retail trade and music.

The committee agreed to approach owners of city buildings, particularly commercial and office buildings with a view to arranging floodlighting. “If this was done the buildings would not look cold and barren and left out of the festival when the retailers are decorating their premises.” Mr Eaton said. Mr J. O. Taylor reported that set pieces were planned for six locations. Several sites were under consideration for a riverbank floral carpet, to* ba flood-

lit at night, and viewed from the opposite bank. With garden clubs occupied with the Horticultural Society show it was hoped that other organisations would fill the breach in the display of set pieces each as large as possible. It was hoped to build this section up to be a main feature of the festival in the future.

Ml L. F. de Berry (secretary) informed the committee by letter that the Civic Music Council would organise, prepare and presort missed choirs under the conductorship of Mr V. C. Peters for the combined service under the control of the National Council of Churches, and under the conductorship of Mr E R. Field-Dodgson for the open-air concert. In conjunction with the Brass Bands’ Association the council would arrange for the co-operation of Christchurch brass bands. Floral Procession

“Last year we aimed at 100 floats and got 50, this year we aim at 50 and will probably get 200,” said Mr D. R. Bowman, who reported on plans for the floral procession. A children’s procession, similar to the previous one, would be held on Saturday. February 28. As many as possible organisations, firms, individuals, sports, social, business, church and social groups would be given the opportunity to join the procession. The procession would leave Carlton Mill bridge at 10 a.m. and go by way of Park terrace to Cramner square which it was hoped to surround with set pieces and floats. Other features referred to during the evening were the possibility of quality jazz concerts, an open-air Shakespearean play, a wishing well, and a “floral festival civic ball” to be attended by the Governor-General (Lord Cobham). The ball would be two weeks before the festival week. For “Wear a Flower” Day wives of members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce would prepare several thousand buttonholes for free public distribution. “I feel that the next floral festival will be more successful than before. It is undoubtedly creating a great deal of interest,” said Mr Eaton. “We art also trying to arrange conferences In the city at that tima.” f