“DEPRESSION CAST OFF”

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1933, Page 9

“DEPRESSION CAST OFF”

BLENHEIM TAKES SPRUCE AIR PREPARATIONS FOR GAY CARNIVAL PAINTERS EXPERIENCE-A BOOM. By Telegraph—Press Association. Blenheim, Last Night. Blenheim has been industrious in the past few weeks with preparations for “Come to Blenheim” Week. To-day everyone appeared bent upon making the most of the couple of days remaining for putting the finishing touches to everything prior to the opening of the carnival on Monday. An epidemic of painting has smitten the town, to its undoubted benefit. The habit has proved extraordinarily infectious, for, radiating from the Government buildings dominate the marketplace, it has spread from one end of the town to the other. When the Hon. J. Bitchener, Minister of Public Works, on a recent visit proved non-committal in regard to the South Island Main Trunk and new college building and irrigation schemes, which would have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, he induced Cabinet to paint the Government buildings. He achieved more than he could have realised. While the once beautiful Government buildings looked shabby and down-at-heel after 30 years or so of neglect, the surrounding business premises by contrast appeared fairly respectable, but when the big central structure was replastered and repainted at all its broken corners everywhere else took a rather dowdy air. Determined not to be outdone by the Government, every retailer has had painters working this week, while the municipal authorities have painted pridges, band rotundas and other public property. So generally has “Painting ■ Blenheim Week” been observed that it is reported that painters have been almost unprocurable, and some master painters have been at their wits’ end to complete orders in time. Electricians who have taken charge of the illuminations and decorations have been practically run off their legs erecting strings of lights along shop frontages and. across the streets. Thousands of bulbs are being strung and the job has required every skilled man in the place. Wiring gangs have been working until dark, night after night. In addition to the coloured lights the principal buildings are being floodlit and the town will present a gay appearance when the lights go up on Monday night. The carnival will commence with a trade procession on Monday afternoon and reach its height on Wednesday night,, when the visiting boxers will arrive for the New Zealand tournament. It may be said definitely that Blenheim has shaken off the depression, the last vestiges of uncertainty or hesitation having disappeared with the happy coincidence of the carnival with the news of the Sydney wool prices.