QUEEN CARNIVAL

Opunake Times, 30 May 1947, Page 3

QUEEN CARNIVAL

PUBLIC MEETING QUEEN SELECTED Miss Yalma Hickey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. H ; ckey, Ihaia Load, was unanimously elected t: represent the Opunake Football Club in the Coastal Division sub-carnival section of the main Taranaki Rugby Queen Carnival which is officially scheduled to commence on June 14th. Mr. E. J. "Wallis presided over a good attendance of footballers and supporters at the public meeting held in the Drill Hall on Monday evening/Delegates AVere also present from the Oaonui Club. Apologies were received from Mr. and Mrs! A. Cargo, Mrs. Alvis and Mr. K. Pennington. Mr. J. S. Hickey, chairman of the management committee of the Taranaki Rugby Union, explained that the aim was to wipe out or considerably reduce the Taranaki Rugby Union's debt of .£SOOO, mainly incurred through the purchase of Rugby Park, New Plymouth, although £I2OO had been spent on the Hawera ground. In emphasising the absolute necessity for all major Unions to own their own grounds, Mr. Hickey considered that it was the responsibility of every club in the province to assist in removing the liability. With a financial union' and a debt-free ground, clubs* could then anticipate a much greater share of gate' receipts, • and assistance for school and lower grade football could be immeasureably .increasi'd. Mr. Hickey that all clubs had been circularised to ascertain their reaction to a Queen Carnival and without exception each club had agreed to pull its weight. The Coastal Division had decided to conduct a sub-carnival within the major one, each club to elect its own queen or princess, continued the speaker, and the winner would go forward, with all votes pooled,, as the official Coastal Queen. "There is a great chance for our Queen to be crowned Queen of Taranaki if a well-organised Carnival is conducted in this excellent district," he concluded. Mr. A. E. Simpson, Oaonui, said that the welfare of ihe Union was for the welfare of football generally, and he pledged the full support of the Oaonui Club. Election of Officials The Carnival Committee and Oificials were elected as follows: Chairman, Mr. E. "Wallis; Secretary, Mr. P. Ranford; Treasurer. Mr. C. Wilton; Committee : All present at the meet-ir-g, with power to add. Evidence of the enthusiasm displayed at the meeting was demonstrated during a discussion on the disposal of surplus money raised over and above the target figure of £SOOO. Mr. Hickey said that should such a happv state of afFairs oceur, the 16 senior clubs would receive an equal share of the surplus. Mr. E. Riley considered that the Junior affiliated Clubs should be given a share of any excess profits. Mr. K. Hickey's motion that Oaonui, Pihama and Opunake share any excess profits on an equal basis was carried unanimously. The Secretary was instructed t • write to the Junior Clubs requesting that three or more members be nominated for the genera 1 committee, and suggesting the formation of a sub-committee to control activities m the respective districts. Mr. K. Hickey announced that he had been approached with a request that a Maori Queen be allowed to take part in the Coastil sub-Carnival. The suggestion was considered an excellent one, and Mr. C. Wilton moved that a strong recommendation be made to the provincial executive for its approval o + the suggestion tha{j, each district be allowed to elect a Maori Queen if so desired.—Carried. The next meeting of the Gen-t-ial Committee was fixed for Wednesday, June 4th.