CELEBRATION OF CORONATION

Southland Times, Issue 23181, 23 April 1937, Page 8

CELEBRATION OF CORONATION

Local Arrangements Discussed EVENTS FOR THE WEEK Plans for the celebration of the Coronation in Invercargill were discussed at a meeting of representatives of Invercargill organizations convened by the Mayor (Mr John Miller) and held in the supper room of the Victoria Hall last night. The Mayor presided and over 50 persons were present. Representatives were present of the Invercargill Wholesale Merchants’ Association, Retailers’ Association, Southland A. & P. Association, Ministers’ Association, Southland Education Board, Chamber of Commerce, Southland Racing Club, Civic Band, Battalion Band, Returned Soldiers’ Association, Southland Rugby Football Union, Women’s and Men’s Hockey Associations, Basketball Association, Football Association, girl guides and Boys’ Brigade. The Mayor expressed pleasure at the large attendance. The object of the meeting, he said, was to ensure that Invercargill celebrated the occasion in | a fit and proper manner. A coronation was an infrequent event, so he would like every endeavour to be made to celebrate it in a proper manner. The Mayor read a letter from the acting Prime Minister stating that it was desired that a Coronation week should be observed from Wednesday, May 12. It was hoped to observe a close holiday wherever possible. He had not yet received advice of what would be done in Wellington, said the Mayor, but an official function would be held in the capital beginning at 11 a.m. He intended to invite the Ministers’ Association to take part in a combined religious service in the Civic Theatre on Coronation Day. He desired to make a good display with illuminations and decorations. Local merchants made a good display on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of King George V and he understood that this material would be available again. Special arrangements would be made for the participation of children in the ceremonies and he was also anxious that the military section should be well represented. Unfortunately a camp would be held at Dimedin during the week and many of the local troops would be absent, but as a result of a conversation he had had with Captain A. J. Moore it was hoped that a representative military contingent would be sent down for the Coronation celebrations in Invercargill. It had been tentatively arranged for the’ Winter Show to be opened on the Wednesday afternoon. Mr A. H. Mitchell said that the Southland Rugby Union had tentatively arranged for senior club fixtures to be played on Coronation Day. Mr R. Donaldson said the Caledonian Society of Invercargill had decided to hold dancing competitions on the Saturday and a Scottish concert in the theatre in the evening. Miss Gladys Petrie said she had arranged a concert for the Thursday night.

Winter Show Plans Mr A. L. Adamson said that the Winter Show would be opened on Coronation Day and would continue for four days with special entertainments each evening. The grounds would be available for any special celebrations. It was stated that the Battalion Band would be holding a carnival in Victoria Hall during Coronation week, beginning probably on the Wednesday. Mr W. Grieve said the Southland Racing Club would hold its winter meeting on Coronation Day and the Birchwood Hunt Club would hold its annual meeting on the Invercargill racecourse on the Saturday.

Other speakers stated that the Basketball Association would be playing matches on the Saturday and a tournament would be held at Winton on Coronation Day. Women’s and men’s hockey associations would endeavour to arrange special fixtures. The Battalion Band would be available on Wednesday morning and the Civic Band would be available during the week. The Pipe Band would be available. Captain A. J. Moore said he had received a telegram that no territorials would be allowed to return to Invercargill on Coronation Day because of a review on that day by the GovernorGeneral.

The Mayor: Well, I’ll have another telegram to Wellington in the morning. Captain Moore said the Technical College cadets would not be available, but the Boys’ High School cadets were anxious to turn out for any public ceremony. Mr D. J. Wesney said that he had heard Captain Moore’s statement with concern. He considered that Invercargill was too important a centre to be left without a military contingent on Coronation Day. .He moved that the Mayor communicate with the Minister of Defence and make representations for a contingent to be present. This motion was carried. Promises of co-operation were given by the girl guides, Boys’ Brigade, Southland Football Association, the Retailers’ Association, Returned Soldiers’ Association and Ministers’ Association. Parade to be Held The Mayor said he had intended that a military parade should be held including the bands, school cadets and other organizations to the theatre, <where a religious service would be held. He proposed to follow out this scheme. Cr G. J. Reed said that so far the celebrations appeared to be of a funereal character. The procession would be of this character and the sporting events would be every-day concerns. He considered that Mr Alex Sutherland should be asked to organize a carnival of the nature of the former May fairs. The Mayor said that before Mr Sutherland spoke he wanted to say that he would not approve of anything in the nature of the May fairs. Mr Sutherland said that the time was too short for any carnival to be organized. A suggestion was made that the owners of motor-cars should be invited to decorate their vehicles to lend colour to the streets and was approved by the Mayor. The Mayor said that the City Council would make arrangements for decorations and would endeavour to encourage business people to illuminate their premises by granting a reduction in electricity charges. A suggestion was made that a committee should be appointed, but a motion to that effect was lost and the Mayor said a further general meeting would be held.

The meeting then adjourned.

CELEBRATION BY SCHOOLS The Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs has advised the Southland Education Board that the Government has approved of the Coronation being celebrated by the schools of New Zealand in the following manner:—

Pupils of each school should assemble at 9 a.m. on Coronation Day, and after

some suitable ceremony disperse for the day. On the day before the Coronation, all schools are requested to recognize and explain to scholars, as part of the school curriculum, the significance of the Coronation. In cases where local authorities desire the children to take part in some combined local effort, the question of allowing the children to do so should be left to the discretion of the local education board and secondary school authorities. No Government financial assistance will be given. Schools are to be urged to provide some suitable symbol of commemoration; for example, the planting of a tree in the school grounds. Each school is to be provided, free of cost, with a permanent souvenir of the Coronation. Details will be supplied later.