QUEEN CORONATION

Evening Star, Issue 23729, 9 November 1940, Page 12

QUEEN CORONATION

CEREMONIAL COSTS FROM PROCEEDS NOT FROM CARNIVAL FUNDS “ lb was the unanimous decision of y the executive that the queen carnival should be concluded with a spectacular coronation ceremony suitable ■to tua occasion, but not one penny of the cost of this function will come out of tlia amount raised by the carnival,” said Mr Arthur Barnett, chairman of tin* Queen Carnival Committee, commenting yesterday on the suggestion that an undue amount of money was to bo spent on the coronation. The cost of the function would be met , from the actual proceeds at Hi» Majesty’s Theatre when it took place. Mr Barnett said. It was confidently, anticipated there would be a substantial balance to pay into the fund. “ The first part of the coronation, ceremony will cost absolutely nothing,”' said Mr Barnett, who emphasised that he was speaking for the whole executive. This will be a cavalcade of Empire, a spectacular display, for which all those taking part will provide them costumes at their own expense, hr fact, the only persons taking part in the whole ceremony whose dresses will bo provided by the committee will bo the three queens, and they are certainly entitled to that consideration for tho amount of time they have given to tho carnival.

“ While the coronation will be adequate to tho occasion, it will he conducted with a minimum of expense,” Mr Barnett added. “We know that a. great many people in the country districts are anxious to have an opportunity of seeing their queen crowned,' and the executive felt that it was its duty to arrange a suitable display for that function We will be very, very disappointed and surprised if the coronation does not pay for itself and, m addition, provide a satisfactory balance for the fund, so that, instead of spending money, we will be making someThe coronation will be some reward fog the many workers who gave such willing service to the carnival effort. It is the result of the unanimous decision of the executive of 14 members, and that must surely be a reply to any criticism that it is being conducted with undue expense.” Speaking of the patriotic funds generally, Mr Barnett pointed out that the sum of nearly £IBO,OOO had been raised in Otago in the first 12 months of the war. The Red Cross sick and wounded appeal had realised about £60,000, the queen carnival would produce £50,000 to £60.000, the Otago Patriotic Council had some £45,000 in hand from general contributions, including _ £15,000 earmarked for rehabilitation, and had spent some £IO,OOO already for patriotic purposes. The administration cost of the Patriotic Council’s activities during its first year, which ended on September 30 last, was 3 per cent. i