Newspaper Article 1964 – Hastings Procession’s Forward Look

HASTINGS PROCESSION’S FORWARD LOOK

Float provision is offered to aid community

Those who guide the destinies of Greater Hastings, frankly admit that during the past two years Blossom Festival processions have not reached the standard which was set – and maintained – for many years.

It is admitted, too, that this year’s procession may not bring any great improvement.

However, Greater Hastings will shortly place plans before the public to try to ensure continuity for the procession and on an even higher standard than the best of previous years.

“It is obvious that our procession must be reconstructed, because of the lack of support from major industries in Hastings and district as well as other vitally interested organisations such as the Fruitgrowers Federation, Hawke’s Power Board, Hawke’s Bay County Council, and such bodies as that,” said the president of Greater Hastings, Mr. H. B. Poppelwell.

TAX ON MANY

“We realise and appreciate the support we have been given from time to time by some of these bodies as we realise too, the time and effort which have necessarily been a tax on them, but these bodies are not the only ones who have been taxed in this way. There is a time factor in every sphere of commerce and, at times, this makes things very difficult,” said Mr Poppelwell.

“Events in a community, such as a Blossom Festival, can only be achieved by an enormous amount of voluntary man-hours, contributed by a large cross-section of the community, and if it is good enough for these people to make a sacrifice of time and effort, then it should be good enough for big organisations to co-operate also.”

“Greater Hastings is concerned that there should be any lack of support after 15 years of effort to establish for Hastings and district, such an outstanding attraction as the Blossom Festival, which has been the cause of drawing the biggest crowds ever seen in the district for any single event,” said Mr Poppelwell.

OVERSEAS INTEREST

“It is inconceivable that through lack of support this festival could be lost to the district. It should be the major annual promotion for Hastings as the fruitbowl of New Zealand, as indeed, it has been for a decade. It has created such interest that visitors from all parts of New Zealand and from overseas write to Greater Hastings for Blossom Festival dates in order to incorporate it in their tours of the country. This in itself should make the public and heads of organisations realise the value of this festival to the province of Hawke’s Bay,” he said.

“But what of the future,” Mr Poppelwell was asked.

“Well,” said Mr Poppelwell, “we can plan to call a meeting of all organisations and major industries in the district to go into ways and means of establishing this even on broader lines and thereby ensure continuity.”

Mr Poppelwell said the one thought which had been investigated was that at least 20 floats of a very high standard, based, in fact, on the winning entries, should be sponsored by industrial and other organisations, and constructed on a commercial basis.

Asked what he meant by a commercial basis, Mr Poppelwell said:

PROVISION OF FLOAT

“In short, Greater Hastings would provide the float for the firm prepared to sponsor it. That is just what it would mean.

“By doing this, it would solve the problem of big concerns having to disrupt staff and business activities to build a float. Provided they were prepared to sponsor the cost, this plan would ensure their participation in and the success of the procession in future years.

“In addition, it would add to the funds of various other organisations,” Mr Poppelwell said.

Mr Poppelwell said this could be done by Greater Hastings providing all the necessary designs and material required for a float. It would engage labour to construct the actual float and the plan would provide for year-round artificial blossom making by such organisations as the Boys Scouts, Girl Guides, intellectually handicapped children, hospital patients, and so on. For making these blossoms, they would be paid so much a thousand, thus adding to their funds. Payment would also be made to organisations who attached the blossoms to the floats.

SUPPORT OFFERED

The money for all this, said Mr Poppelwell, would come from the sponsoring firms, and several who had already been approached had expressed their willingness to co-operate.

“This opens the door to big possibilities, even on a Dominion-wide scale,” he said.

As an example, Mr Poppelwell said that 20 orchardists would no doubt be willing to contribute £10 each to make an elaborate float which they would not have to worry about building.

The combined hotels, major industries, garage proprietors, Retailers’ Association, Rotary clubs, stock and station agents, and so on, could all operate on the same basis and going further afield, oil companies, tyre companies and national organisations could be included.

“It is chock full of possibilities and it is one way of ensuring the future of our festivals and procession,” said Mr Poppelwell.

The world-famed Pasadena Tournament of Roses started in a small way with processions no better than in Hastings.

“It nearly folded up after about 15 years, but then it was commercialised and now it is in its 76th year and viewed by millions,” he added.

Photo caption – Mr Poppelwell…a plan for the future.

Festival judges

Adjudicators for this year’s Hastings Blossom Festival procession will be as follows:-

Champion of champion exhibit: Messrs A. Lewis, C. Wilkinson, and G. Spurdle.

Natural blossom, orchardist’s and decorated car: Messrs G. Spurdle and L. H. Hicks.

Artificial blossom section: Messrs A. Lewis and J. Moran.

Trade section: Mrs R. V. Giorgi and Mr C. Wilkinson.

Other organisations section: Messrs R. V. Giorgi and A. McCormick.

Humorous section: Messrs G. W. B. McCormick and W. E. Bate.

The children’s procession will again assemble in the area at Windsor Park behind the secretary’s tent at 1 p.m. In addition to the usual prizes for the best exhibits, every entrant in the children’s procession will receive a gift of sweets.

The presentation of awards to the prize winning exhibits will be made by the Mayor, Mr. R. V. Giorgi, at Windsor Park following the arrival there of the procession, and a non-stop variety programme of events will be presented during the remainder of the afternoon at Windsor Park.

Photo caption –

AREA PACKED FOR FESTIVAL

HASTINGS CITY AREA thronged by a huge crowd during the height of last year’s festivities.