PEACE CELEBRATIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 81, 5 April 1919, Page 4

PEACE CELEBRATIONS

GRANT UP TO £6OO BY CITY COUNCIL. A deputation composed of Messrs T. A. H. Field, M.P., C. J. Harley, E. J. Allen, and W. S. Snodgrass, waited on the City Council last evening in connection with the peace celebrations. Mr i-'ieid said the deputation was appointed by a public meeting the previous evening. A sum of £ISOO to £2OOO would probably be required for the celebrations and the Government would subsidise local body grants. Grants of £SOO each from the City Council and the Waimea County Council, with the Government subsidy, would probably provide sufficient money. Mr Harley said £SOO might seem a large order, but it was not so in view of : the occasion. The City Council and Waimea County Council would each be represented by three members on the Finance Committee, so that a check would be .kept on the expenditure. Cr. Gibbons considered £2OOO too much. He was not against the celebration, but he thought they could enjoy the celebration without spending so much money. He agreed that it was the fairest way for the local bodies to find the money.

Cr. Harris asked whether it was intended that all entertainments in connection with the celebration, should be free.

Mr Harley: Yea Mr Harley, referring to Cr. Gibbons’ remarks, said the Council would ..not get any credit from the people of Nelson if it was stingy. Mr W. S. Snodgrass suggested that the request should be for “up: to £500.”

The deputation then withdrew. Later in the meeting the Council considered the request'of the deputation. The Mayor said that if the Council gave £SOO the Government subsidy would be about £4OO- He hoped the Council would stand behind the peace celebrations to the extent of £IOOO. The Nelson Council had don© very little for patriotic; funds—it had not been necessary, as the people had found the money. He hoped the Council would place £IOOO at the disposal of the Peace Celebration Committee,

Cr. Hampson said the present Council had done practically nothing for patriotic funds. 1 Tim Pence Committee, he was sure, would not be extravagant, but it should have ample funds at its disposal. The whole Empire would be celebrating the ©vent. The people would not blame the Council for giving the Peace Committee carte blanche.

Cr. Gibbons was strongly opposed to £looo—£soo would be ample, with the subsidy. . V. . ■ Or. Rout moved that up to £SOO be placed, at tne disposal of the Peace Committee. 1

■Cr, Hampson seconded the motion. Cr. Watson said .they could not do too much for the men who had saved '•the Empire. What ■ would haye been, the position if we had lost the war? It would cost a good deal to entertain the soldiers. The motion was carried.