PEACE CELEBRATIONS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16519, 10 May 1919, Page 10

PEACE CELEBRATIONS.

SLMULTANEOUS OBSERVANCE

Tho Mayor (Dr. Th acker, M.P.) yesterday forwarded the following telegram io the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen): —

"The meeting of . Peace Celebrations Executive, lust niglit passed a resolution that strong representations be made to tho. Government that the peace celebrations bo held simultaneously throughout tho Empire, commenting that any other course but this would hold us'iip to ridicule throughout tho wholo world.''

Dr. Thacker informed a "Press" reporter that rill other local bodies would bo asked to endorse the resolution referred to above. 1 In reply to this message, Dr. Thacker received the following telegram from Sir James Allen last evening: "The decision of Cabinet in the matter of the peace celebrations was conveyed to you in my telegram of yesterday. - The Government has already been - ill communication with the Imperial Government, but so far without getting a definite reply. The decision of Cabinet still leaves it open for us to hold the celebrations simultaneously with the other portions of the Empire." THE BAND DEADLOCK. Dr. Thacker - is desirous of overcoming the deadlock which: exists between some of the local binds and the Peace Celebrations.Comojittee, with regard to the peace celebrations, the bands; demanding payment for their services. Yesterday he-read to the Press representatives a letter which had, - he said, been addressed "to the secretary of the Oojist Defence Band, tyttelton, by Col. O. -J. Cooper, officer in charge of the Coast Defences. , The writer said "I havo been asked by. the O.C. district if you will, please see the Mayor of Lyttelton regarding all oversea vessels bringing troops with a yiow to giving them a welcome, the gratuity to be left to both.. Also I desire, if possible, to have a good bandi • -to welcome Major-General Sir -Andrew ■'Russell on his arrival. . This also must "be left to the Mayor and your Band." The secretary of thp Band (Mr L. , "VVeridelhorn), Dr. - : Thicker said, had ,waited upon hiin that morning, and had •informed him that to have a good band, from 20 to 30 performers were required. •These men had to bo taken from their work, resulting in their losing half-a-day.'s wages, and ho suggested that.for lialf-a-day's playing they should .receive 10s each. -That meant that the Band would receive £10 for turning out. "I want the Peace Celebrations Executive to see that this is a bed-rock offer," said his Worship, "and if "they want bands for partial time - they can .get •.them on tho.same basis."

A SOUTHLAND PROTEST. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.} INVERCARGILL, May 9. The Southland Chamber of commerce lias tlccideu to inform the Minister of Public Health that in view of the possibility of a recrudcscence of the influenza epidemic, the Cha&ber views with alarm the holding of peace celebrations before all danger lias passed.