PEACE CELEBRATIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10275, 9 May 1919, Page 6

PEACE CELEBRATIONS

A POOR RESPONSE

APATHY OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

The public meeting called by the executive of the Peace Celebration Committee, in the Concert Chamber of i*ae Town Hall last night, ivas poorly attended. The object of the meeting was to interest the business people along the lino of route of the proposed procession to be hold in connection with the Peace celebrations, and to enlist their sympathy and co-operation in decorating tile streets. Extreme apathy, however, was shown, those present being members of the committee, half a dozen ladies, and two or t'.iree shopkeepers.

The Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke), who presided, said ne was sorry to see so poor an attendance. Tho committee had hoped that tho business people would bo largely represented, as their sympathy and co-oporation were needed in order that tho business premises on the lino of route should be decorated in a manner worthy of tho occasion. It was also thought that tho business people, by iVie calling of a public meeting, would bo given an opportunity of expressing their appreciation of tho work tihe committee was doing, and their gratification at the signing of Peace. It was essential that tho celebrations should ho a pronounced success. The City Council and tho Peace Committee were doing their best to bring this about, and tho co-operation of tlie business people was necessary. The Harbour Board had granted £350 towards the cost of the celebrations, and, with tho amount donated by thie City Council, £2500 would he available, lie sincerely trusted that the celebrations would be a worthy expression of tho citizens’ gratitude and joy at the completion of the war and tho heralding in of a new era of peace and prosperity. Mr J. S. Swan said that he and Mr Lawrence had examined the lino of route that it was proposed the procession should traverse. From the Government Buildings to Kelburn avenue there were tramway standards in the centre of t*ho street, and it was suggested that festoons could be hung from those to the verandahs. From Grey street 10 the Bank of New Zealand, as well as along SVillis, Manners, and Cuba streets, there were no centrepoles. To decorate those streets in a similar manner would mean that the decorations would have to be from 2oft to 30fa above tho road. It was suggested that if the shopkeepers in those streets decorated the verandah poles with flags and greenery it would bo sufficient, but some uniform scheme of decoration was necessary. 'ibiero were twenty tramway standards between the Government Buildings and Kelburn avenue, and as it would cost about £3O to festoon each post, it was proposed that only the nine posts with lamps be decorated. Mr Lawrence said that when the present King and Queen visited Wellington, Cuba street was the bestdecoratcd street in tho city, and ho was certain the business people in that street would again rise to the occasion. For overhead decorations to bo effectively carried out in Manners street would interfere witli the tram traffic, and the City Council, in these busy times, oould not undertake the stopping of IJ.ie tram service. The decorations in the streets should be uniform, but they should not necessarily be alike.

Major T. Halpin suggested that small committees be formed to wait on the business people in each street and solicit their co-operation in decorating. Ho did not think that a uniform scheme was necessary. Mr W. H. P. Barber said that ho was sure the business people would render assistance. ' A definite siAiemo should be devised and placed before them, when co-operation would bo forthcoming. Mr J. J. Lewis said that many persons, now t*ho war was over, had forgotten all about it. The occasion was a great one, and he felt sure the citizens would come forward, when the time for the celebrations drew nearer, and would do their duty. The Mayor said that no apathy was being shown by the City Council and the committee, who had matters well in hand when it was decided to invoke the help of the business ..people. On Mr Lewis’s motion, it was deeded to ask t*,io Mayor to got into communication with the shopkeepers in order to solicit their sympathy in the decoration of their own business premises. THE PROGRAMME.

It is proposed to commence the celebrations with a religious service on the Basin Reserve on the Sunday week following the day on which Peace is signed. It is proposed to erect a stand for the massed choir, which will be ui.der the conductorship of Messrs R. Parker and H. Temple White, and on Sunday evening a service will he held in the Town Hall. On the Monday there will he a naval, military, and civilian procession from the Govern neiit Buildings through the main streets of the city to Newtown Park, whole a sports gathering will bo held, and in the evening there will be a concert in the Town Hall. Tuesday is sot aside for the children, the arrangements having been placed in the hands of the education authorities. Jn the evening there will bo a torchlight procession through the main streets to Oriental Bay, where there will he a fireworks display on a large scale. LONGER NOTICE TO BE GIVEN.

Tho following statement was made by Sir James Allen, Acting-Prime Minister, yesterday with reference to the time for commencing Peace celebrations:—

Cabinet has agreed that after we hoar that Peace has been, signed it would bo bettor for local authorities not to commence their celebrations on the next succeeding Sunday, but on the Sunday after that (in other words, .on tho Sunday week following receipt of advice). That will give them a week or more so that they may have time to make their preparations. The memorandum issued by the Minister for Internal Affairs still stands, in other respects. The celebrations will be continued on Monday and Tuesday, but they are postponed for a week. Should any information come to us from tho Imperial Government indicating that it has adopted any definite date for the celebration of Peace, it is

in order to come into line "dh the Imperial Government.

PROPOSAL TO RESTRICT HOLIDAYS.

Press Association. GREYMOUTH, May 8. The Greymouth and Hokitika Sawmillers’ Association has forwarded the tallowing resolution to the Minister ior Internal Affairs“ Association is ot opinion that, in view ot the necessity for increased production, the pioposca holidays as to Teace celebrations be restricted, and that the estimated suosidy paid by Government tor celebiationa & handed to the Sick and Mounded Soldiers’ Eund.’'

OBJECTION TO PREMATURE CELEBRATIONS.

Press Association. t CHRISTOHUiICH, May 8. At a meeting of the executive of the Peace Celebrations Committee to-night Mr H. Holland, ex-May or, said he recrretted that the Government had madearrangements for celebrating - without waiting to fall m him with the rest of the Empire He tou d like to think the whole Empire will he celebrating Peace at the same time. Air A F. Carey said he did not think that New Zealand should bo celebrating Peace prematurely before the rest of the Empire. Ho suggested that the Government should bo asked to hold its hand and climb down rather than that New Zealand should make a laughing stock of itself. Ho moved that strong representations be made to the Government that the Peace celebrations be held throughout the British Empire simultaneously Several other members supported Mr Carey’s motion, winch was carried unanimously.