THE FINAL PEACE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 87, 6 July 1945, Page 5

THE FINAL PEACE

MANNER OF CELEBRATION f PROGRAMME FIXED Constructive suggestions from town and country as to the manner in which the final, peace will be most fittingly were proffered by numerous scpeakers at the public meeting convened by His Worship the Mayor last evening in the County Council when over • sixty persons representing town and' distript organisations went fully into the whole question and arrived at the final conclusion that tentative arrangements should be made and a preliminary executive set up. Opening the meeting His Worship - said that though personally he considered the calling of thd meeting as somewhat premature he had nevertheless agreed to convene it in answer to a request from a number of citizens and councillors'. In any case it was better to be too early than too late and lie asked for : suggestions as to a suitable programme 'and possibly the nucleus of a permanent committee. He suggested lhat it would be most fitting lor town and country interests to combine in order lo put forward a memorable and justifiable event. He urged further that the meeting having once formulated its programme adhere to it irrespective of what instructions should be issued from 'Wellington. \ A motion moved by Mr H. Warren . 'that town and country should comJjine' for a joint celebration which should be regarded in the light of an official welcome home from the community to all servicemen who had arrived home at that date, was warmly supported, delegates lrom Edgecumbc, Otakiri, Awakeri and other town organisations speaking in favour of it. • Mr Les Lux ton who represented "the County Council said he had been instructed to support a joint celebration and to definitely disregard any set instructions from Wellington. The motion was carried unanimous- 1 lyThe question of the method of •celebration occupied the meeting for some time when suggestions ing from Thanksgiving Services to processions, socials and sports meetings were put forward. Children's ' sports galas anci banquets for ie"tufned men. Maori entertainments were also mooted but. the consensus ,of opinion appeared to revolve about .41 period of consecutive days. Transport difficulties were acknowledged a great problem which would have to be overcome if the celebrations were to be a success. The fact that, .as Mr Hubbard pointed out there were 3000 school children in the district who should be definitely in<- • eluded, was a feature which should not be overlooked. The majority of the speakers favoured a three-day celebration to be devoted to a number of separate entertainment heads. The suggestion that finalised the discussion came from a motion moved by .Mr Les Brown that there be three days celebrations following the first intimation of peace j the first to be devoted to a general gathering in Wha'katane to mark a programme to be arranged, the second to be for the benefit of the children, and the third to be left to each individual community to run its own individual event in honour of its returned men. A leng'thy discussion ensued after which it was unanimously decided to hold a three-day trict celebration details of which should be fixed by an executive committee. It was further decided to set uj: a Borough committee, with powei to add members from each countn centre as delegates were electec therefrom. For the guidance of the cxecutivi it was decided to suggest *thc 10l lowing tentative programme: Firs % day (if news received before noon Thanksgiving Service at 2 p.m. am balance of day made over to spon taneous rejoicing; 2nd day, schoc children's gala to be held in Whii katanc and 3rd day parade, fifnc dresses and decorated vehicles, cul 1 minating with a gala Victory Sport Meeting in the domain to be fo: lowed by a dance in the evening Mr D. V. Saunders was appoinl ed general secretary, and it w

formally decided to appoint a central executive comprising delegates from the R.S.A. the Clergy ? Ladies } School Committee Chamber of Comi merce. Red Cross Women's Tnstit.ute? Sports Bodies Caledonian Society, Maori community s Scouts Guides Borough and County Councils Teachers Institute, Home Ser--1 ■vicemen and delegates from all count try districts. All delegates should be notified to the secretary before August 1. Concluding tlie meeting Mr Barry ' thanked all present for their at- ■ tendance and ashed them tc ; co-operate with the secretary and - to continue to work lor the promotion of a celebration which avoulc - be worthy of the district and, fitting is to the occasion.