CHILDREN’S PARTY

Evening Star, Issue 20981, 21 December 1931, Page 9

CHILDREN’S PARTY

FATHER CHRISTMAS AT TOWN HALL SCENE OF GREAT BRILLIANCE It is doubtful if any city in New Zealand has ever staged such a mammoth entertainment tor children as that held in the Town Hall on Saturday afternoon. Thoroughly well organised under the guidance of the mayoress (Mrs B. S. Black), the festival proved a source of delight to no fewer than 2,000 children of parents . who are unfortunate enough to be suffering from the prevailing condition of unemployment. The party had been planned on such a scale that, in addition to the chief Father Christmas, there were five other kindly gentlemen of the same species, the services of all these being required when the time came to distribute the presents. Some indication of the work entailed will be gained when it is stated that it took the sextet quite an hour to hand out gifts to the very young children who sat in the gallery with their parents. Thanks to the efficiency of the whole organisation, there was no confusion, and every portion of the programme was enacted with a smoothness and naturalness as though several rehearsals had been held. On the stage in front of the tiers where the glittering collection of presents was arranged were talented concert entertainers —volunteers from the Scottish and Welsh Societies and from among the pupils of Miss Lily Stevens, Miss Bessie Thomson, and Miss Anita Winkel. The ever-cheery Big Brother Bill amused the little ones with a characteristically bright chat. The fact that not a single article of crockery was broken speaks volumes for the behaviour of the young _ guests. So well did public-spirited citizens respond to the. appeal of the mayoress that the party cost practically nothing. No money was spent on toys, all of which had been contributed by donors and repaired and freshened by voluntary workers. Moreover, the cordials were provided free by Thomsons Ltd., and the staff of the Grand Hotel devoted one of its free afternoons to making the jellies, which were also provided free of cost. Other helpers included a party of_ Boy Scouts, who devoted their energies to the inflation of 2,000 balloons, a proceeding which contributed greatly to the gaiety of the afternoon. At the conclusion of the festivities Mrs Black expressed her appreciation of the willing services of all who had assisted in making the occasion such a marked success. There were so many jKjoplo who had helped with the preparations and the actual entertainment that it was impossible to thank each one singly. She would therefore like to take the first possible opportunity of thanking them publicly. Y.M.C.A. TREAT.

Although about 2,000 children were entertained at the Christmas treat in the Town Hall on Saturday, at the same hour about 280 children sat down to a similar function in the Y.M.C.A. These boys and girls were carefully selected from the homes of tho poor and deserving and invited by card to this treat. Mr T. Wilkinson, who for the past ten years has organised this treat, had this year arranged his usual first-class entertainment for the children. The items were given by Messrs R. Herbert, Pritchard, Paul Reno, and party. There was enough for the boys and girls to eat, and Father Christmas had sufficient toys to go round every one present. A small bag of sweets was given to each', child as ho passed out, and the smiles on the faces and the joyous laughter were an indication of the cheer that had been brought into the lives of the children.