A NEW CARNIVAL SPIRIT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 107, 7 May 1923, Page 6

A NEW CARNIVAL SPIRIT

The city carnivals which have lately come into fashion in New Zealand are a mixture of old traditions and new ideas. The American "boosting" plan,is grafted on to the old Latin feast. The old spirit of the carnival is not ready %6 hand, to be adapted to this new use, for the carnival, as the name denotes, was, and still is in Latin countries, a feast to mark the laying aside of the things of the flesh before the feast of Lent is begun. Here in New'Zealarifl the Lenten feast is observed by only a proportion of the people, and the rest cannot fittingly hold a feast in preparation for putting fleshly things aside when they have no intention of fasting. Indeed the origin of the carnival has been *bo far forgotten that in one town the time chosen for it was Lent! If the people do not, generally understand this old spirit of carnival there can be little use in seeking to inspire them with it. We must be content with the name, and something of the form, and seek a new spirit for a new purpose. The*new purpose is civic progress, and the new spirit must be the spirit of service. It would be splendid for Wellington if all citizens could be thus inspired; but they are unlikely to be, so we must make the most of those who will work with the idea of_ service, and enlist the co-operation of others by the appeal to- the instinct for merrymaking.

The promoters of Wellington's Welcome Week (the name of carnival is not officially applied) are the men and women who have been imbued with the spirit of service. They constitute a strong body, but there is room in their ranks for more. They have been wise not to be too ambitious in their first effort, but their plans are yet sufficiently big to require all the enthusiasm and all the effort that can be mustered to ensure their success. Instead of a programme of novelty events (that may be attempted later) it is proposed to fill one week with sports and entertainments which would otherwise be extended over a longer period These fixtures will be supplemented by special competitions, entertainments, and displays.'so that there may be no dull moments, and so that the programme will be sufficiently diversified to appeal to all —even to those who take their pleasure by doing a little, .more business. The burden of work necessary in preparation for Welcome Week will be heavy v Much of it will fall upon the shoulders of the ever-willing; but this burden may be lightened, and should be, by a ready response to the call for assistance. Societies and shopkeepers and all to whom the appeal is made will share in the benefit from the effort, and they will be playing an fingrateful and selfish part if they give criticism when assistance is« sought, or the cold shoulder instead of. the helping hand.