ADVANCING WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 248, 19 October 1937, Page 9

ADVANCING WANGANUI

TOURiST LEAGUE’S WORK YEAR’S ACTIVITIES REVIEWED. There was a small attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Wanganui Tourist and Development League in the City Council Chambers last evening, Mr. W. J. Gibson Hughes presiding. The annual report stated inter alia: “The re-institution of an Empire Trade Week in Wanganui was sponsored by the league, and the secretary was appointed to organise this function. Despite the shortness of time in which to complete arrangements, the effort, held during Coronation Week, was an outstanding success from every point of view, and it is to be hoped that the Empire Trade Week will become an annual event in Wanganui. "Running coincidentally with Empire Trade Week was a new movement—Music Week. This, also, was under the auspices of the league, the fundamental idea being to start a fund wherewith to build a concert chamber, a sadly needed amenity in our city. Considerable interest was aroused by this initial effort, but despite the excellent programmes offered, there were evidently too many counter attractions during the period, and the financial return to provide the nucleus of the building fund was small indeed. It would seem, however, that an annual function on these lines would be to the advantage of Wanganui artists, in that the interest and appreciation of the general public can be stimulated; and to the ultimate benefit of the city, in that the addition to the city’s buildings of a suiable concert chamber would be concrete evidence of the cultural standard of our citizens.

"The league’s biggest effort during the year was the Christmas-New Year Carnival. The amount of work entailed in organising this ambitious project was stupendous. I, personally, can vouch for the completeness in every detail of the work performed by the splendid committee under the able chairmanship of Dr. G. J. Adams. "The infantile paralysis epidemic was a tremendous handicap, because of the natural reluctance of parents to allow children to attend where crowds might be expected. This was particularly noticeable at the regatta on Boxing Day, where, instead of the usual 500 or 600 children at Sandy Hook, there were considerably less than 100. In spite of this, however, the details of the carnival accounts show that loss would have been avoided if the weather had not broken so badly. The carnival fair, which, in the ordinary course, would have provided most of the revenue of the whole project was hopelessly handicapped by a succession of wet nights. It is regrettable that the effort resulted in such a serious financial loss. Thanks to the public spirit displayed by one or two citizens, members of the league, in coming to the league's assistance, and to the creditors, in recognising the impossible handicap suffered by the carnival, arrangements were made possible, whereby most of the accounts could be paid in part, and practically all have now been settled.

"The city’s two brass bands _ had been promised some portion of the carnival profits, in return for their co-operation, to help finance their attendance at the New Zealand contest. In view of this the league obtained permission, from the City Council, to show pictures on three Sunday evenings to raise funds for this purpose. The secretary again tackled the problems of programmes and publicity, and as a result of his efforts the bands received something in excess of £l9 each.

"During the year Wanganui’s claims for being linked with the air services, for weather reports from Wanganui airport to be included in the aviation broadcast, for the establishment of a Wanganui broadcasting station, and for the improvement of railway facilities at Wanganui East have been kept to the fore by correspondence and deputation. It must be admitted that, as yet, these efforts have not met with success, but as an instance of what can be achieved by constant endeavour, it is pleasing to record that the Public Works Department has been instructed to proceed with the formation of a footpath for the residents of Putiki, thus removing a danger of long standing. “The executive has also undertaken to assist Mr. W. Draffin in an effort to obtain consideration for a scheme to straighten the railway line from Turakina to Kai Iwi. One effect of the adoption of such a scheme would be the placing of Wanganui on the main line, a consideration not to be lightly regarded. “The Afforestation Camp has been carried on under the capable chairmanship of Mr. A. E. Halligan and the efficient management of Mr. A. D. Cameron. Upwards of a dozen boys, who were on the camp strength at some time during the year, were placed in permanent positions. "The president headed several deputations to the City Council on various matters of league interest, and also represented the league at the civic reception to the Acting-Prime Minister, at the 5,000,000 Club address by the Hon. W. E. Barnard on the subject of population and immigration, and at the welcome to Hon. P. C. Webb, Acting-Minister of Labour, when the Putiki footpath was granted. “Mr. Alan C. Browne, F.R.G.S., a noted traveller, mountaineer, and lecturer, visited Wanganui, and his two illustrated lectures, arranged by the league, were very much appreciated by those of the public who were fortunate enough to attend. Mr. Browne, under the auspices of the league, made the trip up the Wanganui River and back, in order to gather material 1

for New Zealand lectures in Great Britain. “Efforts were made by the league to have the 1938 brass band contest in Wanganui. The required deposit was secured and posted, but after the lapse of a considerable time the New Zealand Brass Bands’ Association allotted the contest to Palmerston North. Perhaps it will not be out of place if I, at this stage, offer the league’s sincere congratulations to the Wanganui Garrison Band on its splendid achievement in annexing the 1937 New Zealand championship.

“A somewhat unusual service has now to be recorded. Through the oilices of the league, a South Island buyer and a Wanganui breeder of Polled Hereford cattle were introduced, the South Islander having written requesting the league’s assistance. “Another most important work under the auspices of the league is the production of a topographical map of the tourist attractions of the district between Wanganui and Rotorua. Mr. G. H. Pownall, one of your vice-presidents, has been the active agent in bringing this about. The map is due to be issued in the very immediate future, and will be of immense benefit to Wanganui.

“Two poster competitions were promoted by the league, one for amateurs and one open to all comers. The amateur class was won by Mrs. L. Cables, of Aramoho. The open class was won by Mr. Oriwa T. Haddon, Wanganui’s Maori artist. Messrs. A. H. Messenger, of the Government Tourist Department, and Mr. G. G. Stewart, the Railways publicity officer, were the judges. It is pleasing to record that, as a result of this competition, several specimens of Mr. Haddon’s work will be featured in the New Zealand Centenary publications of the Government Tourist Department. “On the occasion of the visit of M. Lajos Steiner, the world-famed chess master, your executive felt that it would be fitting to present him with something, which would definitely recall Wanganui, after his return to his own land. Mr. Haddon hit upon the happy idea of painting a picture of two venerable Maoris playing the ancient game of mu, a game somewhat distantly related to chess.” In seconding the adoption of the annual report, the treasurer, Mr. J. Miller, said that valuable assistance had been received during the year from the Railway Department, especially in the organisation of excursion trains to Wanganui for special events. Reviewing the financial position of the league, Mr. Miler said that the sound financial position of the Youths’ Afforestation Camp was due to the good work of the previous president, Mr. D. E. Dustin.

The president admitted that the balance-sheet made sad reading but it could have been worse. As far as the organisation of the carnival was concerned, the league had done its best. Day after day rain was experienced and other circumstances arose. The league had guarantors but the finance committee had decided that if at all possible they should not be called upon for assistance. It was hoped that the league would be able to wipe out the carnival debts in the near future.

In returning thanks for his reelection as president, Mr. Gibson Hughes said that with the co-opera-tion of the people of Wanganui, he was confident that more could be done during the coming year. He appealed to the citizens of Wanganui to lend their co-operation to and sup-; port any movement for the advance-; ment of their city. The following officers were elected for the year:—Patron, Mr. W. J. Rogers; president, Mr. W. J. Gibson Hughes; vice-presidents, Mr. W. J. Gilberd and G. H. Pownall; executive Messrs. A. E. Halligan, A. Mackie, W. P. Miller, H. Rowell, J. J. Lissette, W. Dralfin, R. Cuthbertson, W. J. Robinson, C. S. Brown, L. Holland, Connell Miss I. Coles and Mesdames J. C. | Wickham and McPhail; auditor, Mr. • R. M. Finlayson. Mr. Gibson Hughes expressed his I appreciation of the co-operation he I had received from members of the executive during the past year. He also thanked those who had given the league support, including the Railway Department and the business people of the city.