SPORTS CARNIVAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 29 August 1945, Page 4

SPORTS CARNIVAL

HOLIDAY PROJECT FOR NELSON GALA AT TAHUNA BEACH ATTRACTIONS FOR HOLIDAY MAKERS A proposal to hold a sports carnival in Nelson at Christmas and New Year as a holiday attraction for visitors and local sportsmen was considered at a special meeting of the Nelson Council of Sport last evening, j and a sub-committee was subsequently appointed to plan the organisation of two carnival days at Tahuna beach. It was also decided that the swimming club and the athletic club, which had indicated their readiness to co- j operate, be requested to arrange ! special carnivals during the holi- j day period, and that other bodies j which were willing to arrange \ fixtures at that time be invited to do so. The chairman, Mr E. R. Neale, slat- j ed that the executive committee had j considered the possibility of organis- ! ing a sports carnival at Nelson during the Christmas holiday period and the secretary, Mr M. MacLeod, had drafted a programme as a t basis for discussion by a general meeting of delegates. The programme provided for sports and entertainments from Christmas Eve to the end of the New Year holidays, including beach carnival events, bathing parades, swimming and sports carnivals, children’s events, fancy dress parades, dog parades, and other attractions which would entertain the large numbers of visitors which would undoubtedly be in Nelson for the holiday period. He pointed out, however, the difficulty of securing the help of the large numbers 6f local people who would be required to participate in the organisation and management of the carnival, as many of those who could assist would themselves be absent on holiday. "We don’t contemplate anything at this stage on th e scale of th e Mardi Gras at Napier,” said Mr Neale. “I think the main feature of the holiday programme should be centred on the beach.” The representative of the Tahuna Sands Association, Mr E. D. Barry, stated that, while his association was willing to co-operate in organising a carnival, it could not guarantee much assistance in providing helpers over the holiday period. Mr N. Moorhouse. on behalf of the swimming club, said that it would- be very difficult for the club to arrange two carnivals in one day. as had been suggested—one for children in the afternoon and another for adults in the evening. Mr F. E. Boulton, another swimming club delegate, said that he thought the club could undertake to run one evening carnival during the holiday season and would cooperate with the council in arranging a suitable date. The athletic and cycling club was prepared to run a sports meeting in conjunction with the carnival, said the delegate from the association, Mr J. W. Russell. After discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Russell, that the principle of some organised entertainment during Christmas week be approved; that the main feature be carnivals at Tahuna beach on two days during the holidays, these to be arranged by a special committee; that the swimming club be asked to arrange an evening swimming carnival and the athletic club an afternoon sports meeting on suitable dates: and that any-other organisation willing to arrange special fixtures during that week be invited to do so. The sub-committee appointed to organise plans for the beach carnivals and to report to the next general meeting in September comprised Messrs M. MacLeod. F. E. Boulton N. Moorhouse. J. W. Russell and w’. H. Parr. It was resolved to make application for permission to conduct an art union in aid of the Council of Sport’s funds.