National Festival Project Abandoned

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 119, 10 August 1927, Page 6

National Festival Project Abandoned

“KILLED BY CRITICISM’. ORGANISER ATTACKS NEWSPAPER The New Zealand F.stiv.l h „ been abandoned. A public meet » in Auckland yesterday J deeded upon this course. Tt , organiser (Mr. Albert Goldie! blames press criticism, publish* without, he says, giving him ?ro P n?n U^he y samT!«u?lfo e r X £ l ?r*' the project. 1 lulling JT was suggested that the Xew z. land made .Preference Leamie OS take over the organisation, bm J. Harbutt. who presided, said- .L. a League is not prepared to go o 'n w? k * tins matter. We consider that i??. beyond the scope of our operations." 1 ’ Ae there was no suggestion from it. meeting, it was closed with practical,! no discussion after hearing a i« n „v statement from Mr. Goldie " • A morning paper was very sever.!, taken to task by Mr. Goldie. Not f2 the newspaper did not have the rich, to publish such an article, he said hm he should have been accorded the usii»i journalistic practice of making an planation in the same issue. JOURNALISTIC BREACH. “I consider this a serious breach the decencies of journalism. I shou2 have been asked for my personal ei planation. When it appeared in the foi lowing issue, it was too late; the muT chief had already been done!” Charity was not mentioned in Conner tion with the Festival, said Mr. Goldie It was “to be a boost for Auckland and the Dominion at large.” The pro ceeds, if any, were to be given to the most deserving causes. Although he had done his test t# carry on “despite the doubts ani suspicions” raised by the article i R question, he had found it impossible to do so with the original proposal* “That is,” he added,“unless someone is prepared to come forward” and show how it is to be done.” No one could say that he did not make the Pageant Ball fully spectacular “The financial result has nothing to d« with this meeting,” said Mr. Goldie “That is my concern.” In the circumstances he asked the meeting to relieve him of any further responsibility, moral or other wise, he might have incurred. "The thing has become an impossibility. ... I must plead guilty in one respect, and that is to a lack of knowledge of local conditions.... I may have been carried away by ray enthusiasm. But under present conditions I cannot go on. At the same time there is no reason why another Festival cannot go on.” NO FURTHER OBLIGATION It was eventually moved by Mr. F. Adeane, and seconded by Mr. Ber. Marshall, that Mr. Goldie should bs absolved from any further obligation as suggested by himself. This criticise*, ried. The Festival scheme was criticise*, by Mrs. W. H. Parkes, president of the Plunket Society, who had resigned from the committee. “There were too many young peoph in it.” said Mrs. Parkes, “and for that reason we could not stand for it. The money could also have been raised, in my opinion, with very much expense.” It was preferable to adhere .to stree. collections as' fur as her society wai concerned. And besides, he concluded the Plunket Society had already Deer, before the public on several oecosion* this year.