WEEK OF CARNIVAL

Southland Times, Issue 20659, 15 April 1929, Page 8

WEEK OF CARNIVAL

MAY IN SOUTHLAND PROPOSAL OF RACING CLUB A FAVOURABLE RECEPTION A proposal that has emanated from the Southland Racing Club that, a grand carnival week, with the autumn meeting of the club, the May Fair and the .Winter Show as the chief attractions, should be held in Invercargill annually, commencing in May of next year, has met with a good deal of favour within the three organizations mentioned, and a sub committee representative of all three bodies has been appointed to consider and do all possible to further the scheme.

At the meeting of directors of the Southland Metropolitan A. and P. Association on Saturday a deputation from the Racing Club and May Fair Committee attended to put forward the proposal which appeared to receive the unanimous approval of the meeting.

The following letter was addressed to the association by the secretary- of the Racing Club: —My committee Is seriously considering the question of holidqg its autumn race meeting in May, 1930, and a sub-commit-tee has been appointed to wait on your committee and also on the May Fair Committee with a view to making suitable arrangements for the inclusion of the race meeting in the festivities during May Fair week. Since our application for dates for the 1929-1930 racing season must be in the hands of the Southland District Committee before May- 1 an early- reply will be appreciated.”

Mr W. Grieve, who led the deputation, explained the proposal and said that the Racing Club had always wished to cooperate with the association and assist the Winter Show, but in the past the condition of the racing tracks in May- had not permitted the holding of the autumn meeting in that month, but with the improvements effected to the track and better weather conditions in Southland, it was now considered possible to attempt the undertaking. With the co-operation of the three attractions a Southland carnival week could be conducted to the mutual advantage of all three organizations. Mr W. Stevenson, on behalf of the MayFair Committee, of which he has accepted the chairmanship, said that his committee was quite impressed with the soundness of the proposal and was quite prepared to cooperate.

Dr. Ritchie Crawford also spoke in support of the scheme on behalf of the club

Mr W. Swale, a director of the association, said that the proposal had a lot to recommend it. He would like to suggest that the race and show dates be made to coincide as people would be able to attend the races and spend their evenings at the show.

Mr James Price supported this view. Mr Grieve stated that the club proposed to apply- for permits for racing on Wednesday and Thursday, May 14 and 15, of next year with a proviso that if the Saturday half-holiday- were carried in Invercargill the races be held on Friday and Saturday.

Before the deputation retired the president (Mr James Milne) assured them that he could forsee no trouble in bringing the proposal into effect. His association had always been in favour .of similar cooperative effort. Mr Grieve suggested that a small subcommittee representative of all three bodies should operate throughout the year in support of the carnival.

In the discussion that followed the retirement of the deputation Mr J. Macdonald suggested that syjfree day should be provid ed between the two days’ races in order to assist the show. On the motion of Mr W. Falconer it was decided to recommend that the show should be held on the same days as the races and a sub-committee consisting of the president, vice-president (Mr J. Price), and Messrs J. Gilkison, Swale and Macdonald was. appointed to act with the representatives of the other bodies.