Queen Invited To Floral Procession

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29932, 20 September 1962, Page 12

Queen Invited To Floral Procession

When the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visit Christchurch on February 16. the City Council would like them to see the floral procession which is being organised by the Canterbury Junior Chamber, imd then attend a garden party in the Botanic Gardens, which will celebrate its centennial next year. Suggestions that Her Majesty should be invited to see the procession from a dais in Park terrace and for a Royal garden party were put by the Canterbury Public Relations Office and adopted by the council last evening for submission to the Department of Internal Affairs, which is arranging the Royal visit.

The Public Relations Office also suggested that if the Canterbury Horticultural Society could be persuaded to advance its planning for a major show in Hagley Park. Her Majesty could see that show as well as the procession. The council’s decision was made after some councillors had questioned the value of the floral procession The Junior Chamber asked the council to enter a float. “Not Great Success” While he did not want to dampen the ardour of the Junior Chamber, Cr. G. A. G. Connal said the floral procession last year had not been a great success. There was a tendency to use artificial flowers. It could well be that the council's own reserves department staff and the members of the Canterbury Horticultural Society would be so busy with the centennial of the Botanic Gardens and the big flower show in Hagley Park, that they would not have time to assist with the precession, he said. The Christchurch Festival Association's executive would be meeting next Tuesday. Cr Connal said. He suggested that the council should appoint a special sub-committee

to consider what action should be taken. The floral precession had been a keen disappointment to many people in the ln«t few yeers, Cr. H. G. Hay said. “Terrific effort has been put into lit. and people have had to be badgered into entering floats ” There would be pressure on local bodies and business firms to decorate their premises for the Royal visit. “Coats a Lot” “It costs a lot of money.” Cr. Hay said. “The public think all the big business firms have unlimited money, but it gets down to £ s. d. Lt might horrify our ratepayers if they knew the cost of the last float. We are being asked to put on a good show for the Royal visit, and that, with the gardens centennial will keep the reserves department more than busy and take up enough of the money available for the purpose “I was quite impressed by the floral procession last year.” said Cr. P. J Skellerup, chairman of the reserves committee. “Surely on this occasion when the Queen is due in our city we could do something mere than be sad sacks.” Cr. Skellerup then read the letter from the Public Relations Office and said the suggestions would allow as many persons as possible to see the Queen and allow the Royal visitors to see Christchurch at its best. "Maybe it is asking too much to have this procession every year, but on this occasion, because Her Majesty is here, it is a must,” said Cr. A. R. Guthrey. He suggested that the floats should stay in Hagley park after the procession so that the public could see them, and that the Queen should be invited to drive through the park.