The Dominion. FRIDAY, JUNK 4, 1915. THE CARNIVAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2479, 4 June 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JUNK 4, 1915. THE CARNIVAL

The contrast between the grim reality of war and the gay spirit of Carnnal is so suarp tliai a stranger in our midst might wonder that at a time like tho present such celebrations as those witnessed in the City yesterday could take place. The purpose behind the Carnival, however, puts the matter in quite a different light, and should act as a stimulus to all to assist to make it the great success it promises to be. But we must not allow ourselves to become so absorbed in the details of the big fete, as to forget its why and wherefore. Its conuection with the war should not be lost sight of. Its object 'is its justification. Tho idea is not to divert attentioij from the serious business which the Empire has in hand, but to focus attention on it, and to give every one—rich and poor, young and old—an opportunity of exercising the privilege of actually doing something which will show in a practical way that the whole community owes a deep and lasting debt of gratitude to the men who have left our shores to fight against tne enemies ot King and country. The Carnival enables the willing worker and the cheerful giver to co-operate for the benefit of a cause which commends itself to the whole nation. The many small contributions, direct or indirect, of the people of limited means, all go to swell tho total: even the pennies of the children count. The care of our wounded soldiers and those dependent upon them is a matter which concerns every man, woman, and child in the Dominion. Th: people of Wellington fully realise that the Carnival is something more than a novel form of recreation. Those who are ungrudgingly devoting so much time and energy to the business side of it feel that they are helping tho Empire, and the only reward they seek is tho satisfaction of knowing that their labour has not been in vain. Tho general public is entering into the spirit of the thing so thoroughly that the final results of the Carnival are not likely to fall short of the very substantial expectations of its promoters.

It is a wholesome thing that a community should be able to maintain its cheerfulness and buoyancy while participating in a war of such magnitude as that in which the Empire is now engaged. Long faces and sinking hearts do not help to win victories. But the motto ''Recreation as usual" cannot be accepted without much qualification. Any form of sport or recreation which tends to hinder recruiting or to divert the energies of tlio people from the business of waging war ought to be postponed till a more convenient Nothing should be permitted to interfere with the task of organising the whole of the Empire's lighting power and making tlie best use of it. Our ordinary work and pleasure should be subordinated to the all-important aim of bringing the war to a triumphant conclusion. ' The war test should be applied to all our activities, and it _ should also give direction to our ideas as to the fitness of things. It is well that the business of the community should go on as nearly as possible as in times of peace, but this continuance in the old _ grooves is apt to beget a false feeling of security. It is apt to dull our individual sense of responsibility for the Empire's safety and to encourage the baneful idea" that Britain is bound. to "muddle through" in the long run. This feeling that Providence is going to thrust victory on us even if we do not throw all our might into the struggle is our greatest clanger. The war is shaking us out of this old rut of national cocksureness. The Carnival which is now so much in evidence reminds us that a great price is being paid for our security, and that New Zealand soldiers at the Dardanelles are fighting in order that we may keep the liberties which our forefathers havo handed on to us. It also tells us that those who stay at home have their part to play. In spite of the outward show of gaiety, the flags and the processions, and the many weird methods of money-getting, the public realises that it is a war festival, and that it represents much hard work undertaken by a great number of people who are anxious to do what they can for the causo of the Empire.