QUEEN CARNIVAL RESULT.

Evening Star, Issue 15907, 13 September 1915, Page 7

QUEEN CARNIVAL RESULT.

OTAGO'S GREAT TOTAL:

" ABOUT £143,031. - Mr J. 'A. .Johnstone read the follow-I ing report at tho meeting of the Otago ' Patriotic Association, this morning:— I have pleasure in submitting a report and preliminary statement of the result of the Otago Queen Carnival and Corona- ■ tion Pageant. The association are to be ■ congratulated upon the outcome of the, venture, which has proved to be the most' successful' function of its kind ever held in the Dominion. The splendid result achieved was mainly duo to the enterprise and ability of the honorary organisers, .Messrs Arthur Barnett and Magnus W T . Johnson, each in his respective sphare ' proving himqelf the right man in the right place. ' For over three months the former abandoned his business affairs' in order to devote his time wholly to the development of the huge scheme,' and his well-known energy, initiative, and resourcefulness'were of the greatest value to the -committee. The services of the latter were most generously placed at the disposal of the committee by his . employers, the ' Otago Daily Timeß' and • Witness' Company. Mr Johnson controlled the office arrangements, and though, as may be imagined, his duties were both exacting and arduous, he performed them cheerfully and with the utmost fact, and his valuable assistance assured in no small measure the wonderful success of the campaign. The country work was organised by one r>£ the members of the Queen Carnival x Committee, Mr James Begg, and I' have much satisfaction in recording that the work he accomplished through the good offices of the Farmers' Union, of which he is president, and of the up-country patriotic associations which he and Mr Bamett together visited at their own expense, resulted in a record sum being raised in the country districts of Otago. Of course, it goes without saying that such a splendid return could not have been achieved without the assistance of the various patriotic associations, who organised and carried out a systematic canvass in each district. This report would be incomplete without recording special thanks to Messrs A. B Armour, Allen S. Orbell, and Chas Todd for the successful work they performed in raising a large amount for the fund throughout Otago. I refrain from singling out for praise any particular country organisation or queen group committee, because it would .be invidious to do so, and, moreover, impossible in view of the splendid returns from each ; and all. .My committee, how? ever, feel that nothing short of the object for which the Carnival and Coronation Pageant was instituted would have induced any of the ladies to assume the role of queen, and their self renunciation in the matter has been beyond all praise and has filled us with admiration. The spirit in which the queens and their entourage comported themselves during the coronation ceremonies lent a dignity and a splendor to the performance, tho like of which has never before been seen in the Dominion, and it must have left a deep Impression upon all those who took part In the ceremony or were privileged to witness it. The functions which were held in the new Otago Drill Hall, at Kensington, lasted, from 21st August to 31st idem inclusive, and proved in every way an unqualified success. The great hall, which is the largest in New Zealand, was each night thronged with vast numbers of people, and on several occasion's hundreds were unable to gain admission. The exact financial results of the carnival are not yet available, for tho "final . returns from some of the groups are still s to come in, and there are decorations, fittings, and plant to dispose of, the proceeds of which will be in reduction of the expenses incurred in the equipment of the building for the coronation ceremony. , Approximately, however, it is expected that the carpiv&l and coronation will yield to fund the sum of £127,641; and to this'will Tiave to be added 'the' amount that the association had at the credit of the. fund prior to the carnival—say, £15,381 — making the total to date about £143,031. As to the cost of raising this large sum of money, I think my committee are in a position to assure the association that it will not exceed 1£ per cent. The final statement of accounts will be "audited by Messrs W. E. C. Reid .and P. Hercus as soon as the books ajre closed, and I hope at our. next meeting to be in a position to present a completed balance-sheet to the association. Before closing this report I think I lought to say that, magnificent as the result has been, far exceeding our most sanguine hopes, it would have been much . better had we received,, as we justifiably expected to, the unstinted support of the whole community. For reasons which seemed to my committee quite inadequate, several large institutions and some individuals whose support we confidently anticipated held aloof, while others' alleged conscientious scruples a.gainst the methods adopted for raising money for the fund, but expressed their willingness to help if their contributions could "be paid direct, and not through the medium of the Queen Carnival. At our last meeting my committee reported to you that we proposed to make a public appeal on lines calculated to meet the views of these people, but although it was inserted several times In both daily papers I regret to state that It proved absolutely fruitless. With comparatively few and notable exceptions no large subscriptions were received in the City, but the traders, workers, and the people as a whole responded freely and generously, while the liberality and fine -. public spirit displayed by; the residents of the country districts was unsurpassed in the history of tho province, and ■ utterlv dispelled any doubts as to the strength o'f their determination to see that* our wounded and their dependents will be provided for. The committee record their best thanks to all who in any way contributed to the success of the scheme. Father Coffey seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. The Mayor said he felt quite sure that all members of the association appreciated very highly the efforts of everyone who had helped to make the Queen Carnival such a huge success. The motion was carried amidst applause.