WANGANUI CARNIVAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 36, 12 February 1944, Page 4

WANGANUI CARNIVAL

SPORTS BODIES CO-OPERATE ”1 desire that it be clearly under-1 stood that, at the present juncture,! with the war not yet concluded in victory for our arms, it is impossible to lay down the conception of an organisation for the promotion of the type of carnival week which it is anticipated will become a normal fixture and attraction in Wanganui in the post-war sears,” said Mr. T. S. Russell, chairman of the Wanganui City Council Tourist Publicity and Development Committee, yesterday, in amplification of an announcement that, from February 19 to 26, a modified carnival week is to be heid in the city, under the auspices of his committee. The committee has conferred with representatives of local sports bodies .on two occasions recently, and the response made by these organisations has been highly encouraging. A number of fixtures will be promoted for the entertainment and enjoyment of the citizens during the week after next. “Despite the depleted active membership of these bodies, helpful cooperation has been forthcoming in the presentation of a programme of fixtures which, I am conf? dent, will meet with public approval and generous support,” Mr. Russell added. “It should oc remembered that those who are active in this connection on the home front to-day may be divided into three classes, namely (a) souths, who, as yet, are not of age for military service, (b) the young men who, having .served their country and empire, have returned to their civil occupations and, fortunately for their organisations, resumed their activities, and (c) the older men, many of whom saw service in the last war—these, 1.1 many cases, great i ersonal sacrifice, doing their utmost to hold together the affairs of their club pending the return of their sons and the other’ young men still Io return from active service.” ‘The programme, as finally ratified, is as follows:—Saturday. February 19. towing regatta, in which school crews will be largely represented in the crews which are boated for the occasion. The local bands are to be ap-

proached in regard to their io play on a selected site during the intervals between races. »■ “Wednesday, February 23, Cook’s Gardens, “Scottish Night.” The Wanganui Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club will also run off certain athletic I and cycling events, and a displav will be provided by the’ local Air Training Corps. On the following night, February 24, the District Swimming Championships will be staged in the Gonville Baths, while on the last night of the carnival, Saturday, February 26, the New Zealand Marching Championships will be decided in Cook's Gardens. AH second draft men of the 2nd. N.Z.E.F. who returned on furlough last Thursday, will be admitted free of charge to all fixtures held during Carnival Week. “I trust that the people of Wanganui will whole-heartedly support the programme which has been arranged Bi the interests of the city and to serve as a reminder that even in war time the younger generation in the main, as already stated, is prepared to render a worthy part in maintaining the recreational activities to which their older brothers and friends will later return,” Mr. Russell concluded.