AIR FORCE QUEEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21785, 15 October 1940, Page 4

AIR FORCE QUEEN

Trotting Club’s Donation Executive’s Criticism A decision to adhere to a resolution passed at a previous meeting to allocate £260, the proceeds of a matinee meeting on June 29, to the Patriotic Fund through the Air Force Queen Committee in spite of the opinion of the Queen Carnival executive that the money in no way concerned the Queen Carnival was made at a meeting of the committee of the Timaru Trotting Club last night. “I think you have killed the competition,” said the secretary (Mr H. H. Fraser), when the resolution was carried. He expressed that opinion, he said, as chairman of the Navy Queen Committee. The discussion arose following a letter from the Town Clerk (Mr E. A. Killick) advising that the Queen Carnival executive had resolved to advise the Air Force Queen Committee and the Trotting Club that in the opinion of the chairman, deputy chairman and organiser, the proceeds of the matinee meeting were a direct payment to the patriotic funds and in no way concerned the Queen Carnival. Mr W. A. Piddington: That is their opinion, is it? Mr A. B. Annand: We have decided how we are going to pay the amount to the Patriotic Fund and it is no business of theirs. If we receive the letter they will not be able to do anything about it. Decision of Full Meeting Mr J. F. Montague: The matter was considered at a full committee meeting and I do not see how we can alter it, unless there is a reason for it. The chairman (Mr E. Macdonald): We were divided on the matter, but the resolution was carried. Mr Montague: We had the money and decided how we were going to pay it. Mr L. T. Wood said he had objected because the money was raised before the inauguration of the Queen Carnival. The chairman: I objected too, because it would kill the competition. Mr Annand claimed that the money was not available before the Queen Carnival and had it been so it would have been paid over. Mr Piddington: It has nothing to do with them how we pay the money. I move that the letter be received. Mr Wood: I think it is quite The chairman: I think so, too, but the resolution was carried by a majority. The resolution was put to the meeting and carried, Mr Wood dissenting. “ Killed the C ompetition ” “Speaking as chairman of the Navy Queen Committee and not as associated with the Trotting Club, I must say I think you have killed the competition,” said Mr H. H. Fraser (secretary). Mr Annand: I think that is a poor spirit to show. Mr Fraser: Where can we get £3OO in a crack? Mr Annand: We are going to get £lOOO from something new. A letter relative to the meeting was received also from the Department of Internal Affairs acknowledging a statement of receipts and payments. The matter had been referred to the Stamp Duties Department, which would make arrangements for the refund to be made to the Canterbury and Marlborough Provincial Patriotic Funds in the proportions of 80 per cent and 20 per cent respectively. The meeting discussed the possibility of passing the subsidy to the Canterbury Patriotic Fund through the Air Force Queen Committee, but no decision was reached. “The Government is neutral,” one member remarked.