FOR JOY OF PEACE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1943, 22 February 1919, Page 4

FOR JOY OF PEACE.

SUGGESTED CELEBRATIONS

CABINET’S ATTITUDE,

DRAFT OF PROPOSALS.

The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell) stated on Tuesday that he had submitted to Cabinet proposals for peace celebrations. With slight modifications his draft had been approved. As passed by the Government, the statement is as follows; 1. Tile Government leaves to the partiotism and discretion of the people the manner in which, through the local governing bodies,or otherwise, peace shall be celebrated. 2. The celebrations will be on the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday after peace is proclaimed. The two later days will be declared public holidays. 3. The Government appeals to all employers to grant their employees —domestic and industrial —all possible leave during the celebrations, and to pay full wages and salaries for the peace celebration days. 4. In anticipation of the procla.motion of peace, it is desirable that local governing bodies should at once take steps to prepare for the celebrations: (a) By calling public meetings hi their various districts for the purpose of organisation and determination of the form of celebration to be adopted (b) By determining what funds arc to be expended, and how. (c) By collecting funds for the purpose. 5. The Government has, by section 30 of the Appropriation Act, 1918, validated all expenditure properly made by local governing bodies and societies in peace celebrations. 6. The following are Ibe recommendations of the Government; FIRST DAY (SUNDAY). Recognising that victory has been gained hy the blessing oi Almighty God, (he Government recommends that the first day of the celebrations I should he a day of thanksgiving, and that appropriate services should b.o held, both morning and evening, in all churches, chapels, and other buildings where Divine service is usually held. In the afternoon combined openair services, arranged beforehand by the clergy of the respective ehuri dies and denominations, should be ■ held in town halls, parks, gardens, etc. At these services the assistance of bands, combined choirs, 1 musical societies, etc., should he secured. Music should he a prominent feature of the services. Suitable national songs should be printed and held ready for the selected hymns and songs should Imprinted and held ready for use. Addresses should be short and pointed, each speaker being requested to deal with one phase only of the great subject. It is. suggested that amongst the hymns and songs to be sung should he the following: “() God, Our Help in Ages Past,” and One Hundredth Psalm, “Rule Britannia,” and Kipling’s “Recessional.” The National Anthem will close the service, the full hymn being snug. .SECOND DAY (MONDAY)—THE SOLDIERS’ DAY. At 8 a.in. a salute, to.be tired where artillery is available. At 10,30 u.m., processions to he formed, comprising; Returned soldiers, naval ratings, members of the Ex- “ pedil ionary Forces, Territorials, Cadets, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, military nurses and nurses from hospitals where soldiers are located, Veterans, Consuls of the Allies, decorated lorries, wagons, tableaux, etc., bands, friendly societies, Orders and Lodges, Judges, members of Parliament, members of public bodies, women’s societies, employers’ unions, Labour unions, merciui--1 tile marine, athletic socitics, automobile societies, war trophies, Red Cross societies, Et. John Ambulance Brigade. Marshals should ho appointed for .the procession, and the location of each section should be arranged, in order that each may enter the procession at the appointed lime. At suitable points on the line of route platforms should be creeled, upon which the school children could be massed. Choirs should he located to lead the singing of appropriate national hymns. All Government buildings arc to bo suitably beflagged; the flags of Britain, the Dominions, and the Allies will he prominently displayed. The line of route (o lie decorated with triumphal ■ arches, Venetian poles, and Hags from all public and private buildings. At noon on Monday, a silent bareheaded tribute for one minute will be paid universally to the brave and honoured dead, and all trains and trams will temporarily cease running, and all employment cease while the tribute is being paid. Lunch should lie provided for all soldiers, cadets, and scouts. 5 In the afternoon, military reviews, tournaments, athletic events, com- % petitions, etc., should he held in % suitable parks.

During the eelebralion days, all returned soldiers will wear their uniforms, and bo placed in positions of honour.

The object of the celebrations is three-fold: (1) To express our gratitude for victory; (2) to recognise the splendid services of our soldiers; (3) to specially impress the minds of our children with the great event celebrated.

The Government regards the last as not of least importance. It is therefore recommended that the children be afforded every facility £<rr taking part by being marshalled at the public functions. They should be trained beforehand in the

singing of Ui6 ISiational, Anthem and selected hymns and national songs, and on the Soldiers’ Day should assemble at their schools and either march to their rendezvous or proceed thither by trams, cars, or conveyances with patriotic flags flying 1 en route.

—For Joy of Peace ; 2 In the evening there will he carnival processions in masquerade and charade costumes, to lie organised by University, College, High School, Athletic, Theatrical, and Artistic Societies. Both days will close with illuminations. For this purpose, lionlircs should be lighted on every hill overlooking our cities and (owns, fireworks be discharged at sail able places under safe conditions, and the fire brigades bo invited to assist with their full available power. The Government does not recommend, owing to the shortage of coal and material, that illuminations should he generally adopted, but it does recommend that at suitable points in all cities and boroughs, illuminations should he set up in honour of peace, public buildings illuminated, and the streets festoond with electric lights. THIRD DAY (.TUESDAY)— THE CHILDREN’S DAY. The children to he assembled in suitable parks, with hands, marquees, etc. Relumed soldiers and sailors to be invited to attend. Competitions, athletic events, singing, Highland dancing, tableaux. Headmasters of all schools in each centre are requested to confer and make all arrangements. Lunch, sweets, and (lags to bo provided. A. souvenir peace medal for every school child on (he rolls will Do provided by the Government. There will be illuminations on I he Tuesday evening, as on the Monday, .also masquerade processions. Bands should everywhere be organised and employed in order to assist the celebrations. SUBSIDIES. The following subsidies will he granted by the Government; To any local body which expends £I,OOO or more, Avhether provided from ordinary funds or voluntary contributions, 10s in £; £750, 12s lid subsidy; £SOO, 15s subsidy; £250, 17s 0d subsidy; £IOO or less 20s subsidy. In addition to these subsidies, the Government will provide lor the railway fares of returned soldiers to the nearest city or town, and the railway fares of children from rural districts to the nearest city or town. SPIRIT OF THANKFULNESS. In each borough the expendiliii’o will be controlled by the council, with whom will tie associated a representative of the Defence Department and the Department of Internal Affairs. ■' Finally, the Government desires to impress upon the people that (he celebrations are not only a groat, but also a solemn event. They represent the victory of our Empire and its Allies in u conflict which was brought about by our enemies attempting to secure mastery of the world. It was the greatest danger which the liberty for which Britain stands has ever had to face. "With (he blessing of God and the assistance of our brave soldiers we have won. Let us, therefore, in a spirit of thankfulness, reverance, and humility celebrate the great victory achieved.