SEVEN FLOATS TO BE ENTERED BY R.S.A. FOR CENTENNIAL PROCESSION

Evening Star, Issue 26136, 25 June 1947, Page 10

SEVEN FLOATS TO BE ENTERED BY R.S.A. FOR CENTENNIAL PROCESSION

Seven floats, costing approximately £I,OOO, are to be entered in the centennial procession next February by the Dunedin Returned Services’ Association, which will be represented by a comprehensive display in the cavalcade.

The Executive Committee of the association was informed at its fortnightly meeting last night that there would be a Boer \Var section, and there would also be floats depicting the contribution made to the first and second world wars by the four services.

It is planned to have a group of horsemen in appropriate uniform near the float symbolising the Boer War. It is hoped that the ’South African War Veterans’ Association may be able to arrange for a sponsor for this float. The 1914-18 war float will represent a sand-bagged gun emplacement somewhere in Flanders, and accompanying it will bo two mounted sections each of four troopers, a fourhorse ammunition pack train, and a platoon of marching personnel. A personnel float will symbolise the 1939-45 war, and it will be built in tiers. The Army will be represented by soldiers in deserk bit, battledress, and camouflage, a nursing sister, a W.A.A.C., and a V.A. There will also be a float depicting Cassino. The Navy will be represented by a Wren, a sailor, and a marine, and the Air Force by a pilot in full dress and a representative of the ground staff. The Air Force float will be represented by a Spitfire built in.‘miniature, mounted over, a background of bombed, London. The ex-Royal Naval Men’s Association is to be depicted by a “ century of progress ” —two floats representing the first naval vessel in Otago waters a«d also a modern cruiser. A committee ‘ has been appointed, consisting of Messrs Peter Mclntyre, H. C. Brock, and J. L. Mclndoe, to undertake the planning and supervision of the floats. SPONSORS FOR FLOATS.. The President said it was doubtful whether the R.S.A. would assume financial responsibility for the floats, but that sponsors would have to be found to mount them. The president of the Centennial' Celebrations Committee is Mr I. Penrose, and Mr A. Barnett, who submitted details of the scheme to the meeting, strongly advocated an immediate approach being made to city firms to sponsor the floats. T|ie entire scheme was approved by the executive, which undertook to assume the responsibility for finding sponsors. FREEHOLD OF PROPERTY. The executive decided to receive a deputation from the Presbyterian Church Board of Property on July 10 to discuss the question of the freehold of the land on which the R.S.A. building is situated. Present af the meeting were Messrs M. S. Myers (president), R. S. Orr, W. P. Wellington, A. J. H. Jeavons, D. L. Wood. K. W. Stewart, H. H. Parata, A. W. Barnett, R. .J. Calvert. and W. F, Enrnshnw