NOT TO BE HELD,

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 66, 15 September 1943, Page 4

NOT TO BE HELD,

NATIONAL PARADES

ITALY'S CAPITULATION

The national celebration of the capitulation of Italy proposed for Saturday next will not now be held, according to an announcement made last night by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser). Mr Fraser said .that in view of the cancellation of the celebrations there would be no special holiday observance on Saturday. "The National Committee, representative of all sections of the community, set up to consider the proposal," said Mr. Fraser, "has reported to me from, Wellington, in the light of replies received to my telegrams to all local authorities throughout iNew Zealand, that already in a number of large centres of population the ■ capitulation had been celebrated with great .en.-; thusiasm and that it was not possible to recreate that same spontaneity. "It has therefore become apparent that only in those districts where celebrations have not already been held would it be practicable to have parades to symbolise New Zealand's total war effort. Obviously, nothing but a completely national scale of celebrations would be appropriate, and it has therefore been decided not to proceed with, the proposal. "It has, .however, been most gratifying to learn from the evidence received of the desire of the people generally to take part in a completely national celebration, and I am also grateful to the representatives of employers,, manufacturers, farmers, labour organisations, and. Government Departments for the great amount of constructive thought and hard work put in at such short notice to make the proposed parades truly symbolic of the whole of New Zealand's war effort. The foundation has been laid for celebration at very short notice on the next appropriate occasion, which we all trust will not be long in coming."

A Westport Press Association message states that owing to poor response there to attend a public meeting to celebrate the capitulation of Italy it had been decided to invite all the churches to hold a thanksgiving service on Sunday evening.