REQUEST FROM R.S.A.

North Canterbury Gazette, Volume 7, Issue 60, 30 November 1937, Page 5

REQUEST FROM R.S.A.

Discussion by Council

FESTIVITY WEEK ATTRACTION

A request from the Rangiora Returned Soldiers’ Association for permission to run a novelty attraction in the streets during Festivity Week was the subject of some discussion at the Borough Council meeting held last week. The Association’s intention was to have a decorated lorry, with orchestra, parade the streets with stops for community singing and chocolate games. Proceeds were to be in aid of the Association building fund. The Mayor said the idea of the Festivity Week Committee was to run as few-attractions as possible during shopping hours so that shopping was not disturbed. The Council wanted to help the R.S.A. as much as possible. He thought permission should be granted as long as the propos.al did not clash with the Festivity Week committee’s plans. Cr F. E. Martyn: The idea may not be quite in order. The Mayor: Well, that’s for the police to say. The Town Clerk said he understood the idea was to parade the streets in a lorry with a band on it, and later run some kind of a game on the back of the lorry in one of the side streets off the main street. Cr Keir stressed the danger of creating a precedent. This was just what the Council had been trying to stop. The shopkeepers were paying for Festivity Week to bring out the people. He thought permission, if granted, should be for an off night. Cr Martyn: They should have gone to the Festivity Week Committee first and offeretTto work in with them. He would like more information first. A motion by Cr J. A. Ivory to leave the request to be dealt with by a subcommittee was not seconded. Cr Keir thought it should be left to the Festivity Week Committee. The Mayor: How about agreeing providing arrangements are made with the Festivity Week Committee? Ttprovides the money to attract the crowds, and should have the say. The programme is specially planned not to clash with shopping hours. Cr Martyn then moved that the Association be written to advising them to approach the Committee and negotiate for what they require, and that if everything is in order the Council raise no objection. Cr Ivory: That is asking the Festivity Week Committee to decide what the Council should decide. The Mayor: It must be worked in with the Festivity Week Committee. The Council can have no objection to their being on the street on one cr two days. The motion was then carried.

FESTIVITY COMMITTEE AGREES Colonel Mackenzie and Mr T. Herron waited on the Festivity Week Committee yesterday morning, and explained the aims of the 'Association. The idea would not clash with shopping hours. The attraction would be put on in the evenings and not until the shops had closed on late nights. The Committee granted the request and asked the Association to co-oper-ate with the Community Sing Committee.