THE ROYAL VISIT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20086, 30 April 1927, Page 12

THE ROYAL VISIT

MEETING OF RECEPTION COMMITTEE. BALANCE SHEET SUBMITTED. DEFICIT OF £345. A meeting of the Reception Committee which was set up to control the arrangements in connection with the Duke of York’s visit to Dunedin was held m the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. The Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley, M.P.) presided, and the others present were; Messrs W. B. Taverner, J. B. fahacklock. J. J. Clark, J. S. Douglas, W. Begg, H. H. Leary, and T. Anderson of Port Chalmers). Mr J. T. Roberts (secretary of the Schools’ Committees’ Association) wrote congratulating the committee upon the auccessful holding of the children s demonstration during the visit of Duke of York, and expressing appreciation of the work donfe by those responsible for the function. —Received. Mr C. Blackman (Town Clerk of Port Chalmers) wrote as follows: —“At the last meeting of my council I was directed to write forwarding an objection from this council to the arrangements made for members of local bodies attending the welcome to H.R.H. the Duke of York at Dunedin recently. Councillors who were ticket holders stated that they had great difficulty in obtaining seats, which had been reserved for them, particularly at the function of unveiling the war memorial. My council feels that local bodies which contributed towards the cost of these receptions could have been shown a little more consideration, and it trusts that such consideration may be shown on any future occasion.” Mr Tapley said this was the fit complaint ho had heard in connect;-n with tho whole proceedings. It was ,ws to him that ticket holders did not , et the scats provided for them. Those v, jo had to look after ticket holders’ seat spent hours and hours on their work, a >d if the Port Chalmers representatives had any difficulty he could not understand it. The war memorial arrangements had nothing to do with the Reception Committee, being entirely in the hands of the War Memorial Executive. The accommodation at the war memorial was very limited. He was sorry to learn that tho Port Chalmers people had had difficulty in getting seats. Mr Anderson said he understood that Cr Mackie, who represented the Port Chalmers Borough Council, was ordered out of his Beat. Mr Tapley said that a number of members of tho executive went to the ground at 1 o’clock, and decided that a seat would be found for everyone entitled to one. Mr Lewin said he was sura Cr Mackie would not have been ordered out of his scat. Mr Tapley said ho was sure there must bo something wrong with the statement. Mr Clark said the Port Chalmers people should be informed that the matter had nothing to do with the ReceptionCommittee.

■ The letter was noted. Mr Lewin presented a balance sheet in connection with the visit. This showed that the total receipts were £3263 19s Id, and the expenditure £3609 8s lid, leaving a debit balance of £345 9s lOd. The principal items of expenditure were:— Street decorations £1355 Ss 5d (less £369 recovered), and citizens’ ball £833 12s (less £485). The principal receipts wore tho City Council’s donation of £IOOO and a Government subsidy of £IOOO. Mr Lewin said (ho debit on this was very near the same amount as the debit on the visit of the Prince of Wales. The deficit on the Prince's visit was £332 17s ss. The expenditure on the Duke’s visit was £3OO less than it was when the Prince of Wales came to Dunedin.

The Mayor said that a heavy expenditure was incurred in making the Exhibition building suitable for the reception. He thought they would agree that the money had been well spent because it had afforded facilities for holding the reception without difficulty. He thought that faking everything into consideration the cost of the visit had not boon excessive. Mr Douglas said there was a lot of permanent construction work done. Tho Mayor: That is included in the amount.

The report was adopted on the motion of Mr Tapley, seconded by Mr Anderson, and it was decided that a copy be sent to each of the contributing local authorities. Mr Tapley said he supposed the City Council would have to make up the deficiency.

The Mayor said he wanted to express on behalf of the citizens generally his warm appreciation of the work done by the executive and the numerous sub-com-mittees. Without their help it would have been impossible to carry out the arrangements so successfully. Although they showed a debit balance the arrangements made were really worth while, because they made for the comfort and convenience of his Royal Highness in passing to and from the various functions. The Duke of York had personally expressed his gratification at the arrangements made. They would agree that the visit was a very happy one, and one that would linger for a long time in their memories. It would stimulate that loyalty to the throne and Empire which was so neccessary, and which would be so much in evidence in every British possession visited by their Royal Highnesses. He hoped such visits would be made from time to time, because visits by members of the Royal household did more than anything else to bind the Empire together. He wished specially to thank the Ladies’ Committee, which worked very hard, and which saved the committee a large sum of money. They owed a great deal to Mr Lewin, and also to Mr M’Donald, who acted as secretary to the committee, and who did splendid work. They were deeply indebted to Mr Alexander (city engineer), to Mr Tannock, to the bands, and to the St. John Ambulance Association. It was decided to vote a bonus of £lO to Mr M’Donald in recognition of his work as secretary. Mr Clark expressed the appreciation of the committee to the Mayor for the manner in which he had carried out his part in the work. On the motion of Mr Anderson, the committee decided to disband.