CHILDREN TO LINE ROYAL-VISIT ROUTE

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1948, Page 2

CHILDREN TO LINE ROYAL-VISIT ROUTE

WHETHER it would be best to have school children assemble at Kensington Park or to line streets in Whangarei which would be traversed by the Royal party was one of the questions settled at a meeting of the Royal tour emergency committee yesterday. School committees"will be recommended to make arrangements for the children to line the streets.

The town clerk (Mr Hall) suggested that children from outside the borough would be better off it they assembled in towns along the route. They would see more of! the Royal Family this way than if they came into Whargarei. "Yes. wo should write to the school committees and tell them that we think it would be better if they did that, but if they want to come here they will dc welcome." Mr Jones said. His motion to this effect was carried. Mr H. W. James moved that men from service associations be assembled in front of the dais, so that the King could inspect them if lie wished, and that the path to the dais be lined with decorated servicemen.

"The carriageway should not be lined.

"I think tire King will be more concerned with meeting service personnel than with others and he could not meet them unless they were assembled in front of the dais.” Mr James considered.

"Until such time as we go there and arrange where the dias is to be I don't think we can decide where the soldiers will be," Mr Jones commented. "Seventy per cent of the servicemen won t see the King if they are all gathered in a block in the park." Mr Hall maintained.

"I don t think the King will go round two or three thousand servicemen in a block.

"If the car passed down a line of thorn, however, he would be able to acknowledge them.

It was decided, on Mr Hall’s motion, that the committee confer with the chairman of servicemen’s associations and tile ceremonial committee on the siting of the servicemen. those to be presented It was decided, on Mr James’ motion, that the following should be presented to the Royal Party. In each case their wives are included

Members of the Whangarei Borough Council, Mayors of Dargaville, Kaikohe and Kaitaia, chairmen of the seven northern county councils, chairmen of Northland town district boards, Mrs M. G. Coates (widow of the late Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) and escort, and nothern members of Parliament Members and clerks of all local, territorial and ad hoc bodies (power, hospital, fire and harbour boards) will be invited to accept a seat on the grandstand, following a further motion by Mr James.

An area will be set aside on the mam grandstand lor elderly people, of the age of 70 and over. An announcement would be made regarding the number of tickets available after a survey of the seating accommodation. It was decided to invite the physical welfare officer for Northland (Mr N T. Helleur) to attend the next committee meeting. Mr Helleur had written, saying that, if desirable, a sports programme could be arranged for the entertainment of the large crowds expected at the park NO FIREWORKS No fireworks display will be held m Whangarei on the night of the Royal visit. A letter had been received from a manufacturer of fireworks, stating that a display could be provided fi’om prices ranging from £750 to £2OOO.

“I would not like to see £IOOO going up in smoke at Kensington Park," said Mr Hall.

It was decided to investigate the purchase of 10,000 small flags for school children.

'Coming To See Public'

WELLINGTON. Fri. (Sp.)—Their Majesties were coming to New Zealand to see the public, not the rulers of the country, said the chairman of ihe Wellington Citizens’ Committee for the Royal Visit (Mr J. T. Martin) at ils meeting yesterday.

i “The people of Wellington are goI ing to be able to see Their Majesties | for only four hours,” Mr Martin added. “I think the time has been cut j down a little too closely.” i The committee is to give an early i reply to proposals for a powhiri, or j official welcome, by the Maori people, j which were put forward by a Ngati ; Poneke deputation.