THE CORONATION

Wairarapa Daily Times, 3 May 1937, Page 3

THE CORONATION

MEETING- IN MASTERTON. PLANS FOR CELEBRATION. At a, meeting on Saturday evening of 0. special committee organised by the Mayor (Mr. T. Jordan) plans were made for the celebration in Master-ton of the Coronation' of their Majesties, King George VI. and Queen Elizabeth. The committee consists of four members of the Borough Council —the Mayor, Councillors W. Kemp, G. D. Wilson and. A. D. Low —and the following co-opted members: Messrs H. P., Hugo, E. ,M. Hodder, R. J. Young, J. H. Irving, P'. F. Fagan and Captain J. (?. 'Holmes. It was decided to follow, at a public gathering to be held in the Masterton Park on May 12, the programme of religious and other observances indicated by the Prime Minister. In addition to the singing of “All People That on Earth do Dwell" prayer and a reading of Scripture, it was decided that the Mayor and Mr. Tr'llobertson, member for Masterton, should be asked to deliver addresses. The Ministers' Association is to'h'be asked to appoint clergymen to conduct the religious service. The place of assembly will be the grandstand in the Park. It is proposed to erect a dais for the clergymen and speakers on the north-east side, at right angles to the grandstand. The grandstand is to be reserved for the invited representatives of district local bodies, clergymen and others. Chairs are to be provided in front of the grandstand for old people if there is not room for them in the stand or if they do not wash to climb the stairs. It is hoped to arrange a parade of Territorials, returned soldiers and the local squadron of the Legion of Frontiersmen. These will be asked to assemble in Jackson Street at 10.30 a.m. and to march to the P’ark, led by the Municipal Band. The proceedings in the Park will start at 11 a.m. sharp. Members of Friendly and other societies are also to be invited to join the procession to the Park, wearing their lodge regalia. The Mayor stated that he had received from Mr. A. W. Don, the officer in charge of the local squadron of the Legion of Frontiersmen an offer of its services on Coronation Day or on any other occasion.

A flag-pole is to be erected in the Park on which the Union Jack will be hoisted. A military salute will be given and a verse of the National Anthem will be played by the Municipal Band. Mr. H. M. Boddington is to be asked to act as marshal of the procession. A resolution was passed by the committee regretting that owning to the circumstances prevailing at the present time it was not possible to make any special provision for children. The decoration of Queen Stifbet from Wagg's corner to Daniell's corner -syas undertaken by Mr. Hugo on behalf of the Retailers' Association. The window r -dressers of ...the . various firms will be organised with a view to decorating the exteriors of the business premises. The Borough Council wall provide necessary labour and the individual shopkeepers will be asked to decorate the interiors of their windows. Mr. Hugo’s idea is to make a levy of a shilling a foot frontage, -with the proviso that this need not be regarded as a maximum by those who are disposed to give more. The question of extra lighting of Queen Street -was considered, but the opinion of the committee was that the street was already sufficiently lighted. The coloured lights will be used in addition to the ordinary street lamps. The Power Board has offered to supply at the rate of Id per unit any additional power for lighting that may be required. Some special lighting may be arranged in the vicinity of the Municipal Buildings. One question that has been raised is that of releasing members of the Masterton Municipal Band on Coronation Day without loss of pay. The Mayor stated that the Borough Council, following a suggestion by the Prime Minister, was granting a holiday on pay to all its employees save those engaged in essential services. The lastmentioned employees will be given a compensating holiday later. The Mayor proposes to invite employers generally to- grant their employees a holiday without loss of pay. The Mayor observed that the Military Ball to be held on the night of May 12 would fit in very well with the official celebration of the Coronation. The Municipal Band proposes to give a concert in the Park on the afternoon of Sunday, May 16, when the programme will consist of national music. An offer was received frona the Wairarapa Football Association to arrange a match on the Park Oval on the afternoon of May 12. It was left to Councillor Wilson to make the necessary arrangements, subject to the ground being in order. An interprovincial Rugby match, Wa'irarapa v. Hawke's Bay is to be played at Memorial Park on the afternoon of May 12.