NAPIER MARDI GRAS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 45, 1 February 1924, Page 4

NAPIER MARDI GRAS.

CARNIVAL TO BE ABANDONED. RETAILERS CRITICISED. The Napier Mardi Gras is to be abandoned. At a public meeting in the Borough Council Chambers last evening, the following motion was carried :— “That in view of the general apathy of the business people of Napier towards the Mnrdi Gras, the refusal of the retailers to grant the usual half-holiday on the second afternoon, and their action in closing their premises all day on January 2nd for the Hastings races, it be a recommendation to the executive that the Mardi Gras be abandoned.” .

The meeting was called to consider the report and balance-sheet for the 1923 Mardi Gras, which was as fol-

“The executive have pleasure in presenting the statement of receipts and expenditure for the recent Mardi Gras and also for the queen election. As will be seen from the statements the queen election shows a profit, but the Mardi Gras resulted in a loss. The fact that permission for the queen election art union was given for Marine Parade improvements prevents ? r our executive from making good the oss on the Mardi Gras from this source. The change from Nelson Park to McLean Park did not seem to meet with the approval of the pulblic, and the fact that trams run close to AlcLean Park did not compensate for the extra distance the majority of people had to walk, as the takings from the gate nearest to the tram service were not up to expectations. Elaborate arrangements were made for the entertainment of the people on the children’s afternoon (second day), and a big and varied programme * was provided. The action of the retailers in. refusing t© grant the usual half-holi-day killed the function, which was a wash-out. only £36 being taken against £199. The children’s procession was the best so far, and the parents of the children taking part are deserving of our best thanks for their co-operation. The big procession on Boxing Day was not up to the usual high standard, and more enthusiasm must be shown by the citizens if the procession is to be the feature of the Mardi Gras. To our Taradale friends and those firms and ladies and gentlemen who entered displays our heartiest thanks are due. The coronation of the queen was a notable event, thanks to the efforts of Air. A. E. Renouf, who had arranged a splendid installation ceremony. Thanks are due to the Mayor, Mr. J. B. Andrew, and the Napier Borough Council, the of the Napier Boxing Association, who ably contrailed the boxing championships, the Clay Pigeon Club for the shoot on the Marine Parade and the police force for their admirable control of the traffic. Mention must be made of the good work of the queen committees, who organised their efforts so well and Ibrought the election to such a successful conclusion. Notwithstanding the amount of energy and enthusiasm displayed, the relations between the various organisations and the club were of a most cordial nature, and nothing whatever occurred to mar the success of the function.” The balance-sheets are as under:— MARDI GRAS. Receipts.—Gate takings: Boxing Day £312 5/8, Boxing night £lB3 3/-, second day £36 2/6, second, night £53 15/-, New Year’s Eve 7/-. Grandstand; Boxing Day £26 13/6, night £6 9/6; second day £2 19/6, night £5 1/6. Cycling, quoits and boxing entries £l6 16/-; electric supply side shows £3 17/-, grant from anonymous lady for industries exhibits £l5, donations £6 6/-, privileges and sideshow rents £l2O 8/-, ocean wave takings £55 17/-. Total £929 1/2. Expenditure.—Procession prizes £49 5/-, bands £7l, entertainments and fireworks £3l 17/-, printing and advertising £147 19/7, boxing trophies £26 1/6, boxing expenses (gloves, etc.) £2O 18/-, prizes second day £46 14/9, labour preparing park, sellers, etc., £74 10/9; telephone, bureau, etc., £ll 11/4; Napier Borough Council (electric light and installation, share of grandstand takings, marking out track), £7O 5/2; cartage and drivers’ wages £27 9/10, photographs £6 15/-. hire of tent and acetone lights £5 4/-, roll tickets £4 13/8, repairs to stands, etc., £5 16/9, gas for office £5 5/-, sundries £7 18/7, petty cash, stamps, etc., £9 3/4; ocean wave £53 7/11; secretary’s salary £l5O, office expenses and rent to .October 31, 1921, £100; orders outstanding and ocean wave expenses £6O. Total, £985 17/2. A loss of £56 16, - is shown. QUEEN CARNIVAL. Receipts.—Theatre night stunt £4O 0/6, sacred concert £lB 3/6, queen committe«‘B £lBO6 17/5. Total, £1865 1/5. Expenditure—Printing and advertising £167 16/1, gold spociniens for art union £65 2.5, theatre rent £29 17/6, stage hands, etc., £4 17/-, presentations to queen candidates £25 10/-, petties £5 10/-. Refunds to the various committees: Musical £6O 12/3, Sailing £54 13/3, Cricket £6 12/9, Cherio £76 3/5, To Awn £42 13/2, Boxing £6O 13/2. Y.M.C.A. £129 2/11. Highland £ll6 11'2, Citizens’ £177 13/9, Schoolgirls’ £79 11/4, Clive £39 19/2, Port £B2 1/-, Children’s £6 2/3. Th© expenditure totals £1231 3/7, • leaving a credit of £633 17/10. i Air. Wilkie, in moving the motion recommending the abandonment of the Mardi Gras, said that the retailers, in not granting the half-holiday on the second day of the Mardi Gras and yef, closing all day for the Hastings races, were disloyal to the town. Mr. F. B. Mason said that the last carnival was not a success. The im- . pression given him by hotelkeepers and restaurantkeepers was that they could fill their places without the assistance of the Thirty Thousand Club. “The time has come.” said Mr. C. L. Thomas, “to give the Alardi Gras a miss. Then those who benefited (by it will realise the loss. Many of us were unable to have a holiday as w© were busy working un th© carnival, but 1 won’t do it any more for uninterested people.”

The fact that the retailers kept open on the second day, said Mr. W. Harvey, resulted in keeping 1000 people away from the carnival. The second day’s programme was the best ever presented, and yet the takings were only £36. Air. A. Hobson said that too much stress was being laid on the loss on the Mardi Gras. Surely it was sufficient to have made a credit on the queen election. He did not think the onus should be laid on the retailers. Mr. Wilkie said that the retailers, were a hindrance to the Mardi Gras. The motion was carried. It was also decided that a committee from the club, consisting of Messrs. Harvey, Latham. Bisson, Wright and Parker, meeting the Borough Council regarding the best method of disposing of the credit balance from the queen carnival for improvements on the Parade.