NO RUNANGA GRANT FOR ROYAL VISIT

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 October 1948, Page 3

NO RUNANGA GRANT FOR ROYAL VISIT

The Runanga Borough will not contribute any, money . towards the central fund for the welcome to be extended, to the Royal Family next year. This, was decided at.a meeting of ratepayers called by the, coun-, cil last evening. There was an attendance. of 21. . The Mayor (Mr G. E. English) presided.

The Mayor explained that, the central committee had' suggested a grant of £lOO, but the council' was, not •prepared to., agree jo. this sum. Though it could, ill afford it, the council felt that the town should play its part in the celebrations, .-and re-commended-to the. -meeting that the £umX-£5O hejgranted.. This.would be subject to any.refund made possible by any Government’grant towards the expenses. He’said that the Royal party was ..visiting, this .country at the invitation and as the guests of the Government—a Government which had Conferred many benefits on the people and the town of Runanga, and he and the council felt that it was right and proper that the town should follow this lead and contribute towards the welcome. He asked for an expression of opinion on the amount of the proposed grant.

“Forty-three Others”

Mr D. Barnes said th'dt it was not as if the Royal Family was .merely, having ’ a holiday ..in New„ Zealand, but there were to be. 43 others travelling in the. party, all at:the expense of the New Zealand Government,-and it was,-not right.- Apparently they had been invited by the Government, but it was not right that 'the working people should be levied ,to entertain these people. The borough could not afford to make any. grant, with the streets in the condition, they were. Mr D. Hewison objected to the proposed fireworks display whilst there was hunger and want in Europe. He moved that the meeting should .not support the proposal to make a grant. This was seconded by Mr J. Harrington. Mrs G. Wright moved an amendment, seconded. by,. Mrs W.-Wright, that the recommendation of the council be agreed to. Mr J. Harrington said the money could be very well spent on ■ the streets and drains of the town. . “If the Government .invited the’ party then it was its duty to shoulder the responsibility and entertain them,” concluded Mr Harrington, .... Guests of Labour Government. ..

Mr G. Brown, (a member of the council) said the Royal party were to be the guests of a Labour Government and this was a Labour town. There would probably, be a Government subsidy towards the cost, which would reduce the amount required. Mrs F. Oakley advocated spending any money on a suitable ,celebration when the Royal party passed through the town,. ...

The Mayor said that every worthwhile institution and amenity in Runanga had been assisted or .provided for by .the Government, and it was up to. the residents, to show some gratitude when an occasion such as this arose.

Mr Harrington: Twenty years ago many members of the present Government would not tolerate what they are encouraging today. Mr F. Baxendale said that just a few years ago the cry was “Bombers for Berlin,” 'then “Feed Berlin,” “Send food to the starving”—-now it was “entertain the Royal Family.”

“Once in a Lifetime”

Mr Brown said that people were losing sight of the fact that, the main reason for raising money was to feed and entertain the children who would congregate in Greymouth for the day. If the town did not contribute then it could not expect its children to take part. It was a “once-in-a-lifetime” event for the children, and the. cost of transporting, feeding and entertaining would be heavy. No council in New Zealand could really afford such grants, but it was a question of doing the right thing. Whilst he had 7 reservations about fireworks, the display would be something memorable for the children. Mr Barnes said the money would be better spent on having a picnic day for the children. Mrs W. Wright (a member of the ‘council) said there were many complaints that night about the lack of amenities in thp town, but the town had been in existence for a long time and there had been many borough councils without any progress towards tar-sealed streets. In recent years, through Government help, a water supply was provided, and there was a good prospect of other improvements in the near future. Mayor’s View

The Mayor said he was in sympathy with many of the sentiments expressed, but he felt that it was right for the town to play its part, particularly in view of the children. Mr Harrington, said that the parents of Runanga and Dunollie children would see that, their own children were provided for and enjoyed themselves. Mr J. Clelland moved an amendment, seconded by Mrs Oakley, that a fund be opened for the entertainment of the children on the occasion, but the amendment was not put to the meeting. x On a vote being taken, 15 voted for the motion (against making a grant) and five (including two. councillors) voted for the amendment supporting a grant of £5O.