“ALL NATIONS FAIR” SUCCESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 August 1932, Page 5

“ALL NATIONS FAIR” SUCCESS

OVER £lOOO COLLECTED

SPORTS QUEEN LEADS

Until the announcement was made by the Mayor, Mr. J. W. Greenslade, at the conclusion of the monstei’ bazaar, which brought to a close the All Nations Fair, none outside tne officials had the slightest idea of the amount which had been raised, during the six weeks the Fair had been in progress. It was generally believed that the unemployed, for whose assistance the Fair had been conducted, would reap considerable benefit from the efforts of the various committees, and the generous public response which every call made, had brought forward. The announcement that the grand total of £lOl7 2/5 had been raised, was greeted with prolonged applause, by the huge crowd assembled at the' Town Hall, during Saturday night. The Mayor then announced the results of the Queen Carnival which placed the Sports Queen a good first. The amounts raised through the efforts of the committees and supporters of the three Queens were: — Sports Queen, Miss Maureen Beban, £458 14/4. Business Queen, Miss Jewel Beck, £279 18/6. Schools and Hospital Queen, Miss Maida Topliss, £277 11/4. To this total of £lOl6 4/2 was added 18/3 in the General Fund, making the grand total £lOl7 2/5. Throughout Saturday afternoon, and night, till 11 o’clock, people patronised the various stalls and side shows, in their hundreds, and fully recognising the worthy cause for which the various committees were working, sales and competitions were rapidly carried on, until every article was sold or won. At the conclusion of the Fair, ths Mayor, and Messrs C. Neville (Chairman of the Central Committee), A. A. Adams (Sports Committee), P. Beck (Treasurer), Topliss, and A. Beban, expressed their thanks to the public for the splendid manner in which they had come forward to make the Fair a success. Congratulations were extended to the three Queens, and the committees each thanked for their efforts during the past weeks.

The money will be used to provide extra days of work for local unemployed, including youths under 20 years. A proportion will be expended on boot repairing, and sundry other matters that have to receive attention. In a statement made to a “Star” reporter, the Mayor said that he would immediately go into the matter, and see what amount could be allocated weekly, for additional work, and; what period it would extend over. He was naturally pleased with the splendid response. When the Fair had been initiated, it was considered that ,it would be best to have one big effort, so that the public would later have considerable leisure, before any further application was made to them. The bulk of the money will be allocated to particular work in the Borough, from which it was hoped corresponding benefits would accrue. Any small help which it was proposed to give to unemployed in the country, had yet to be considered. It will be readily understood, that although the amount is substantial, yet, when it is spread over the whole of the unemployed in the Borough aloud, it will give approximately only £5 per man. “It will therefore be seen,” said the Mayor, “that the money will need to be husbanded, and that no particular case can receive large benefits.” “With regard to the result of the All Nations Fair, the proceeds speak volumes , for the spirit of generosity that emanates from West Coast people,’.’ added the Mayor. “A fine spirit prevailed among the workers, which is to. be commended. The self sacrifice, and strenuous efforts carried out by the different workers, is worthy of admiration. It is difficult to single out any particular individual worker, and it is needless to say that all worked concertedly, with the one object in view. As Mayor, my appreciation and pride of their efforts is whole-hearted. The Mayor’s Fund will not provide any work this week, for all accounts will have to be gone i into, and a statement issued of all past expenditure before trenching on the new fund.”

On Friday evening the Municipal Band rendered an appreciative programme of music at the Town Hall, and on Saturday night the Civic Band assisted with a number of selections.

SPORTS QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY. Saturday was the second occasion on rj which the Sports Queen, Miss Maureen Beban, has been returned Queen of the Carnival. In 1919, when a carnival was held in Greymouth to aid the Dean Carew Memorial Fund, £4OOO was raised by the committees of four Queens, and Miss Beban, then only three years of age, was supported to the extent of £l4OO. Last Saturday, Miss Beban celebrated her seventeenth birthday, and in working to return her Queen of the Carnival, her helpers gave her a birthday present, which was fully appreciated by her. COMPETITION WINNERS. The many competitions held during the Fair, netted big returns, and the following winners are announced, with others yet to be decided: J. Kyle’s suit, Mr C. J. Burley; Dinner, Mrs M. Olsen; Easy Chair and Cushion, Miss E. White; Penguin, Miss M. Airey; Cushion, Mrs P. Coll; Bride Doll, Gilbert Kitchingham; Bedstead, Miss A Brown (Hokitika); Ham, Mr J. Conder; Golden Butterfly, Miss M. Richards; Tea Set, Master Jim Beban; Pair of Kewpies, Miss Molly McGrath; Bed Jacket, Miss Maureen Rohloff; Wallsend Pictures, Mrs J. Harris; Local Pictures, Mrs E. Anderson.