CORONATION BALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 156, 3 June 1937, Page 11

CORONATION BALL

ALLOCATION OF PROFITS. COMMITTEE’S DISCUSSION. The concluding meeting of the Coronation Ball Committee was held last evening, the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) presiding over a good attendance. The balance-sheet snowed a credit of £72 15s lid, the main item of receipts being, ol course, the ticket saies, £322 1/s 6d, and the chief.items of expenditure were: Supper, £146 13s; decorations, £3O 8s 3d. Colonel J. H. Whyte and Mr J. Linklater commented on the very satisfactory result, stating that not only was the ball a success financially ; it was a triumph socially. Both paid a tribute to the services of Mr \V. M. Brown, who had charge of the decorative schemes.

There was some discussion on the allocation of the profits. The chairman moved that the money be handed to the A. and P. Association towards the repairing of the main grandstand at the Showgrounds. He reminded those present of the part the association had played in the growth of the city, and recalled its action during the Napier earthquake in throwing its grounds open to the refugees. Its buildings bad been used free of charge for the clothes drives during the depression,, and its hall free for the charity ball. The grounds, he added, were an asset to the city, and with many big fixtures next year the re-roofing of the grandstand would be in the interests of

the city. Mr Brown seconded the motion,- stating that he doubted if the money could go to a better cause., While agreeing with the remarks of previous speakers, Colonel Whyte moved that £2O be voted to the Territorial services in the city and the balance to the A. and P. Association. “I am certain that the citizens do not realise what an asset our Volunteers are, and how much they have to put their hands in their own pockets to keep the service going,” he said. “The/boys have only one motive—the service of their country—and it would lie a fine and fitting gesture to recognise that service by giving them a portion of the profits oi' a Coronation function.” “I am a member of the A. and P. Association,” said Mr Linklater. “yet I hasten to second the amendment. He added that the volunteers were due a deep debt of gratitude, and lie little realised they had to support themselves to’ the extent they did. “We’ll get the grandstand built; don’t worry about that,” be concluded. 1 Mr Jos. Batehelar: I understood the defence forces wore maintained by the : Government. Colonel Whyte: Only up to a point. 1 Mr Mansford said it all came as a surprise to him. “If £2O is the best that Palmerston North can do for the Volunteers in these circumstances, 1 don’t know the city,” he declared, amid applause. The question of bolding a military ball was mooted, and following further discussion Colonel Whyte’s amendment was carried without dissent. On the motion of the Mayor, votes of appreciation were passed to the following: The ladies of the committee, the A. and P. Association, Miss Gwen Gibbs, Messrs H. C. Collinson. T. A. Hastings, H. R. Brown, R. Parker, L. P. McDavitt, P. S. Larcomb, ,T. W. Muir, D. Niven, J. Purves, W. H. Brown, G. Perin and Mr and Mi's J. A. Russell. Colonel Whyte paid a tribute,to the services of Mr and Mrs Mansford and a vote of thanks to them was passed by acclamation.