The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY APRIL 30. WHAT IS TAIHAPE DOING?

Taihape Daily Times, 30 April 1919, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

WEDNESDAY APRIL 30. WHAT IS TAIHAPE DOING?

(With which la Incorporated The Talhape Pont and Walraartao Newffl).

The Minister of Internal Affairs has officially advised Boroughs. County Councils and all public bodies that they arc to prepare for Peace Celebrations, In,his telegram to the Taihapc Municipality he says: “Government has decided such celebrations will be hold on the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after the signing of the preliminary peace treaty. As such treaty may be signed any date now, this advice is sent in order that you may have all your preparations in hand.” Arc we in Taihape ready with our preparations for celebrating the most auspicious, momentous, wide-reaching event that is likely to appear in the world’s history for many centuries' yet to come' if not for ever? It signifies the end of the biggest, bloodiest butchery of human life that mankind could have conceived to be possible. All Europe has been the scene of immense shambles, where human life for over four years has been cheaper than that of vermin, and human blood has been made to flow like water on land and

tq intermingle with the waters of the oceans. Milions of the best lives have gone in the appalling holocaust, and now. by the bravery and courage of their race, .and by the loyalty td their country and love for their homes, oUr New Zealand soldiers, in common with the soldiers and sailors of the whole Empire, the Homeric orgy is over; victory over the aggressors has been won, and a peace that will carry with it punishment of the offenders and compel some compensation to be given in those peoples who have suffered most, is ready for the enemy to sign. That signature may be written any day, in fact, the momentous document may already be completed. Do we feel glad that the unprecedented pandemoniacal revels arc no longer possible? Can we re-

joice that no more of our gallant sons are to be sacrificed to tbe god of war? Is it worth anything to us to see our • lads, who were mere youths when they ! went to face the greatest and best 1 equipped army on earth, coming back I amongst us after having performed a j glorious duty, and after having made , our land and our homes secure from the present day visigothie vandals

they have vanquished? Do oven those who have suffered bereavement at the hands of the satanic Hun not feel a comforting satisfaction that the orgy of death ig over; dbat no more of their dearest on earth can be taken; that no other mother or wife is to experience the almost unassuagable sorrow that it has been their lot to fall under? There is only one answer to such questions. The sorrows that overshadow ovary ipart of this Dominion will be borne down by great gladness all must feel at the signing of the contract between victors and vanquished, made to secure justice and a lasting peace. The news may arrive in New Zealand any hour that peace is- proclaimed; are*wc in Taihape ready to join in expressing the joy and gladness of the whole British Empire? A Peace Celebration Gomraitttee was appointed at'a public meeting held for that purpose; The

Mayor of the town is at the head of that committee; an appeal was issued to the public for contributions towards the cost of any programme the committee might decide upon, and many of our business community promptly responded. There are, however, hundreds of men, whose names are familiar in thi s district, who have not contributed anything, names that are over-conspicuous in their very absence from the published lists of those who have thought the object of joy of consuming worthiness. We know the measure of thankfulness of every man at the victory of civilisation' over human destruction cannot be calculated or even represented in pounds, shillings and pence, but some money is essential if we are to have any demonstration of joy aud thankfulness that war i s no more, and of gratitude that our men are already returning home to us. We mot. and publicly sent them off on an awe-inspiring errand; have they accomplished all we expected of them? Then, shall we hesitate in contributing a little <■” the money we have earned while they were away, to show our gladness at their return, with their work so nobly and effectively accomplished? The Minister of Internal Affairs has specifically warned ns by telegraph that the timei of signing the Peace Contract is at hand, and advises Us to be ready to demonstrate with the Empire our joy; have we contributed the small moiety that will make peace celebrations possible in Taihapc? Let us who have remained behind to keep the home fires burning, do our duty no less nobly, according to the opportunities that have been given to us, than the brave boys did. avho we have once more with us, walking the old familiar scenes they left to perform a supreme obligation if necessa'y. Their great war-work is finished, dot us> join as it seemeth ns best in downing thruefforts and sacrifices with an exposition of national joy and gratitude that the occasion :s abundantly worthy of. It is desirable ’hat those particularly who Dame Fortune has been so notably kind to during our soldiers’ absence realise that efforts to make peace demonstrations what they should be will fall miserably flat and harrowingly disappointing if those who arc well able to help do not scud in their contributions at once. It is well-understood that hundreds of generous-minded settlers would feel chagrined to see the districts peace joy a farce owing to their, forgetfulness, and it is in knowing this, wc venture to give them a final reminder. The committee’s’ hands are tied; they do not know what 10 do because of the hopelessly inadequate funds placed at their disposal Without money peace may be proclaimed and Taihape will only be able to take a .mean part in the national rejoicings. Any who desire to contribute to the Peaco Celebration Fund may send their donations to our Office, or they may telephone their wishes to us, aud we will at ,1 . 7 once gladly add their name? to the list of acknowledgments appearing in our news columns. Our expectations arc at the highest water mark!!