THE DECORATIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19785, 8 March 1927, Page 6

THE DECORATIONS

Sir, —Now that the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York is past and over, I may be permitted to criticise the decorations. In this matter I can quite agree with the many adverse criticisms heard on all sides, such as “very poor/’ etc. The excuses for this will doubtless bo “the short notice,” and “the mere flying visit.” But the old proberb teaches us that, “What is worth doing at all, is worth doing well,” or else leaving undone. As it was, there were scarcely half a dozen buildings, excluding tho Post Office, railway station, and entrance to Cook’s Gardens—decently decorated. The rest were most poor and shabby, while there was far too much of the funeral effect of greenery, just thrown on anyhow— 1 most*slovenly. Our townspeople could not reasonably raise the plea of short notice, seeing they had been aware of the coming visit for several weeks past. I do not like to think the apparent indifference was due to Socialistic and Communistic antagonism to Imperialism, but rather to poverty, hard times, and the heavy burden of taxation and crushing local rates. The plea of “a mere flying visit” is more reasonable, but, such being the case, there was no necessity for decorating the town, other than the railway station, Post Office, and entrance to Cook’s Gardens, providing every flag staff in the town carried a large flag. It was the failure of this which could be found most fault with, (as on all previous occasions) I counted no less than 47 naked flag-staffs, several of these on the route in Victoria Avenue, even upon important buildings. Had every flagstaff in 110 town carried a large flag that would have boon the best form of decoration. No decoration is so imposing and effective as large flags, and masses of bright colour. I fail to agree with townsfolk in their apparent idea that naked flagstaffs are sufficient decoration, for they are either signs of poverty, or utter indifference. There is no excuse for this indifference. They have had many years in which to supply flags to their poles. It would perhaps be well for the City Council to lay in a stock of large flags and let them out for a reasonable fee to all those too poor to purchase them. A by-law compelling the tenants or proproprietor in possesion of a building 'furnished with a flag staff, to fly a large flag on all important occasions, or be heavily fined, and not permitting any slovenly greenery, might be a good thing. For no further cost, and no further work or trouble, it could have been so much better. The cords of tiny flags stretched across Guyton ( Street were most ridiculous. Were they tiny flags, or children’s pocket handikechiefs?

It might also be to the credit of the town to place all direction of decorations in the hands of a committee of ladies possessed of good cultured taste. We men do not understand such things, and only make a mess of it. CENSURER. March 5, 1927.