NO “PROSPERITY WEEK”

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1933, Page 5

NO “PROSPERITY WEEK”

DIRECT APPEAL FAVOURED.

PROPOSAL TO AERO CLUB. A “prosperity week” was adversely reported upon by Mr. C. E. Bellringer, for the sub-committee of the New Plymouth Mayor’s Relief Council which had been set up to consider it, at last evening’s meeting of the council. Instead, the council approved the idea of a straightout appeal to all business people and others able to give, concluding with a full-day Saturday carnival, probably at Pukekura Park, in the second or third week in February.

Mr, Bellringer also mentioned a proposal that had that evening been put to the New Plymouth Aero Club by a Wellington entertainment organiser to run a carnival for a fortnight, coinciding with the visit of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, when it was proposed that an endeavour be made to have Mr. Charles Ulm present. The properity week sub-com-mittee was empowered to meet the Aero Club representatives, who, Mr. Bellringer said, would wait on the council. In reporting on the “prosperity week" proposal for the sub-committee Mr. Bellringer said that to conduct it certain matters requiring considerable expenditure with no guarantee of adequate result would be necessary. Such a week at. Wellington, he understood, had. not been very successful. It had been decided to recommend an organised drive. In other towns “prosperity weeks” from a business standpoint had not been very successful. It was felt that a definite appeal properly carried out would certainly help to provide an Adequate fund, and it could be easily closed with an all-day fete on a Saturday with a view to making about £7OO by the one effort. In the past when the town had not been so large very considerable sums had been raised by these fetes. If this was done, Mr. Bellringer said, he thought it would eliminate some of the objectionable things in “prosperity weeks” as conducted in other towns.

Mr. Bellringer mentioned a proposal that had been put to the New Plymouth Aero Club by Mr. R. J. Colver, Wellington tramways entertainers, and considered that evening, to run a carnival week in connection with the visit of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, it being proposed also to endeavour to have Mr. Charles Ulm present. The aero club was going to get into touch ■with the council on the matter at an early date.

. The chairman (Mr. P. E. Stainton) said that after discussing the matter from all angles he agreed that the straight-out drive idea, if the support of business people and all able to give was obtained, would be more effective. What work was put in woud give a 100 per cent, return, whereas by other ways, necessitating outlay the return would be only 20 to 25 per cent. Archdeacon F. G. Evans in a lettei' read at the meeting said he preferred straightout giving rather than a "prosperity week.”

The following committee was set up with power' to add to make arrangements in conjunction with the straight-out appeal: Mesdames A. Patrick, M. Avery,- L. R. Curtis, Miss E. Andrews, Messrs. E. R. C. Gilmour, A. J. H. White, L. Mander, C. E. Bellringer (convenor) and P. E. Stainton and D. Le C. Morgan (ex officio members).

In the event of the Aero Club wishing to meet the council regarding a carnival week, the “prosperity week” sub-com-mittee was empowered to meet the club’s representatives and discuss the matter.