THE PROCESSION REVIEWED

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14819, 24 October 1911, Page 4

THE PROCESSION REVIEWED

A GAILY-DECORATED TRAIN.

UNION AND TRADE DISPLAYS

The long train of lorries and nondescript vehicles that left the foot of Queen-street, two hours before noon made a tine spectacular procession, and the sight of the banners, flags, and streamers, stretched from end to end of the city's main artery, moving slowly and regularly, was at once striking and impressive. Thoso spectators who had the advantage of a view from a high balcony saw the best part of tho Labour Day demonstration under tho best conditions. There were broad effects in colour, scores of well-groomed, quick-stepping horses, many varied holiday sounds, and a thousand and one decorative details, that reflected brilliantly in the business-place windows. Patriotic colours were more prominent than anything else, and from a side street it seemed as if broad bands of red, white, and blue ribbons were flung out over the whole- line of march. There was not a drab item in the show. Tho vehicles were lavishly decorated, the horses were shiny-coated, with ribbon-plaited manes and tails, the trad© ire-presentations were striking and well chosen. Fine. arum lilies and nikau palm leaves, interwoven among brilliant streamers, heightened the effect, and the gay splashes of colour made the procession a moving picture, as creditable and as artistic as the promoters of the day's demonstrations could wish for.

The Trades Unions. Big lorries, drawn by four horses, and sometimes by six, occupied pride of place in the march. On them were the displays of the unions of carpenters and joiners, coachworkers, stage employees, stonemasons, carters, drivers, hairdressers, waterside workers, plumbers, painters, bricklayers, and sheet metalworkers. The first lorry in the procession represented the Drivers' Union, and had a large banner flying over many bright decorations. The hairdressers' display was on a realistic scale. Four gray horses drew the turn-out, on which stood a representation of a shaving saloon. Inside this the scissors and the brush were being applied with great show, and the assistants were having a busy time. Samples of fittings in a tin hut, occupied the plumbers' lorry, and soldering work engaged the attention of two or three men who hammered away as if the end of a big contract was drawing nigh. A 'painter, brush in hand, stood on the next lorry applying streaks of paint to a pretty little kiosk, the whole making an effective display. It required two lorries to carry the signs and emblems of the. Sheet Metalworkers and Tinsmiths' Union. On one were elaborate designs in sheet metal. Shining brightly in the sun, and on the other machines were running and men working on quite a business-like scale. The coachworkers had materials of their catling on two decorated lorries, where wheels were being fixed up by energetic workers. ..

The slageworkers had a miniature stage, closed down on one side, and painted with various scenes. ■ There was also a display symbolical of unionism, and another stood eloquently for the disasters of non-unionism, wherein comically-attired workers, "sweating" beneath the signboard, caused a good deal of amusement.. (Gteneral Displays. The advertising character of the numerous displays by business firms attracted attention all along the route. There were many ingenious devices, and Auckland wares were glaringly advocated on placards and signs, handbills and streamers. In close vicinity to tke Highland Band, the Northern Roller Mills had a big display—the best in the procession. Champion flour was heralded on each of seven or eight carts, and the benefits of protection were ; announced side by side. One cart contained a score of grotesquely-masked individuals, who were labelled, as samples of freetraders. There were waggon loads of smiling young New Zealanders, who had evidently been fed on Standard oatmeal, and were not averse to more.

The- Wai-Wai Aerated Mineral Water Company requisitioned a dozen carls for their display, and on them they had bottles and jars of soft drinks, temptingly arranged. There were decorations in flowers and ribbons on each turnout, and the marshal of this display was attijed in the dress of "a cowboy and mounted en a horse. A square van on a lorn- displayed the trademarks of Royal Standard tobacco, which is the only tobacco bearing the label' of the Tobacco Workers' Union. Messrs. John Burns and Co. were represented by a lorry and four fine horses, and Messrs. A. B. Wright and Sons by a lorry and six well-groomed greys. Bags of "Miki" bonedust made a load for a cart with the name of Alfred Buckland and Sons on its side. Besides thes» there were corporation display* and many butchers' and bakers' carts, all with ribbons and flowers decorating their splashboards, and some with nikau palms. The Auckland Bacon Company, Eaton Bros., D. Hay and Sons, LaidJaw Leeds, and the Champion Supply Stores also had decorated carts in the procession.

_ Eighteen vehicles, with bold trade signs, represented the liquor business. Each cart carried striking placards and rows of green baa-ley, and the effects to follow from prohibition were pointed out. PROCESSION AWARDS. The following awards were made'in connection with the procession: — Light Delivery: G. Searle (J. 3. Craig's vehicle), 1; Copes (John Burns and Co.), 2; Edwards (A. B. Wright and Bonn), 3. ' , Borough Councils: Newmarket (driver F. Smith), 1. . . Heavy Delivery AppJeton (John Burns and Co.), 1; J. Holroyd (A. B. Wright and Sons), 2; Neil (Cunningham and Co.), 3. Express Carts: To\«nsi»nd, 1; Peachy Brothers, 2; Atkinson, 3. Four-horse F. Smith (A. B. Wright, and Sons), 1, J. Holroyd (A. B. Wright and Sons), 2 ; JleClurc (H. M. Carpenter), 3 Two Medium, abreast: Smith (A. B. Wright and Sons), 1; W. Crenwell (Campbell-Ehrenfried Co.), 2. Three-horse Teams: Henderson (John Burns and Co.i, 1; Wilson (Roller Mills), 2: Urciuhart (Holier Mills), 3. Trade? Union Display : Tinsmiths, 1; Painters, 2 ; Coach workers, 3. Mast Comical Display: Coachrvorkers, 1; Tucker, 2; A. Jenkins and Co., 3. Fancy Dress Costume: W. A. Grieves, 1; Chas. Graydon, 2. Trade Display, Wai-Wai Company. The Dr. Stopford cup competition will not be concluded till Monday ; and, similarly, the, award for the union having the largest percentage of members on parade will not be made till that day. A four-horse van, owned by J. J. Craig and driven by J. S. Stokes, bore the union banner, and as the judges were representatives of the union the owner of the vehicle was requested to withdraw from competition. However, the display was such an excellent one that it was decided to award a special prize.