Big turn-out at ‘peace festival’

Press, 21 March 1983, Page 6

Big turn-out at ‘peace festival’

A temperature of 29deg. ensured a big crowd turnout for Christchurch’s first “peace festival” at Hagley Park yesterday. One of the festival organisers, Mr Larry Ross, estimated that up to 10,000 people took part in the celebrations of the first anniversary of the Christchurch City Council’s resolution declaring the city a nuclear weapon-free zone.

People joined in the spirit of the day with song, dance, theatre, displays, and entertainment, as the central theme of peace and nuclear freedom was emphasised throughout the day. The festival began with a parade, from Latimer Square, to the park, of bands, floats, and costumed people. One of the floats included a replica of the intercontinental nuclear missile, built from 44-gallon drums. Another feature of the parade was the distribution of bread and military recipes by the Sumner Neighbourhood Peace Group as part of its “bread, not bombs” theme.

After a picnic hour, the formal opening was held, guest speakers including the Mayor of Christchurch, Sir

Hamish Hay; the Bishop of Christchurch, the Rt Rev. W. A. Pyatt; and the Catholic Bishop of Christchurch,, the Most Rev. B. P. Ashby. The day’s climax was a simulated nuclear explosion which both shook and impressed the curious crowd. The blast, which upset a number of children, included an explosion, fireball, and smoke fall-out.

The fireball was a 60g charge of blasting powder fired from a mortar and the fall-out was talcum powder fired from a mortar. The low-frequency explosion was similar to one from a nuclear blast, the crowd was told.

The “explosion” was followed by an address by two doctors who explained what would happen to Christchurch and its people if a nuclear weapon landed on the city. The peace campaigner, Mr Owen Wilkes, spoke to the crowd on “missile madness.” He said that the City Council’s decision to make Christchurch be a nuclear weapon-free zone was a sound one and urged that people should push the Government for a national

nuclear-free zone. Food stalls offering sweets, home baking, and even hot pancakes attracted many people. Other stalls sold craftwork, and tokens from peace and environmental groups. One of the most popular stalls, especially among children, was one where a customer could have his face painted in bright colours, in the spirit of the day. Mr Ross, secretary and founder of the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone Committee, said the festival was the biggest venture he had been associated with and probably the most successful.

“It has been a colossal task, one which we have been working on night and day,” he said.

Although the day was a big success, his only disappointment was the release of 1000 peace pigeons, carrying peace messages to other councils in New Zealand, from Latimer Square instead of Hagley Park. Another highlight was the performance by the Auckland rock band, Herbs, which entertained a big crowd at the end of the day. Mr Ross said he hoped the festival would become an annual event.