WAR IN EUROPE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 99, 28 April 1945, Page 6

WAR IN EUROPE

MARKING OF END

CELEBRATION PLANS

Government proposals to mark the end of hostilities in Europe include the > ringing of bells, the sounding of sirens, and the flying of flags when the official news is rfeceived, a formal pronouncement by the GovernorGeneral, the setting aside of the Sunday following the announcement as a day of prayer and thanksgiving, and the observance of the remainder of the day on which the news is received and the following day as paid holidays. The schools will also be closed on those days. Community celebrations are being left to. the civic! authorities. "It is not possible at the moment to say when the end will come or the form the cessation of conflict may take," said the Acting Prime Minister (Mr. Nash). "In the meantime it is certain that Germany is beaten and doomed to extinction as a military Power and that is cause for great thanksgiving and jubilation. "Immediately after the official notification has been received the fact will be made known to the public by the ringing of bells and the sounding of sirens. Flags will be flown and j bunting displayed. It is anticipated that the circumstances of the event will permit of a formal pronouncement. This will be made by the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, from the main steps of Parliament House, or, if the grounds are not sufficiently restored, from some other suitable place to be announced later. "Other speakers at this national ceremony will be the Prime Minister, or, in the event of Mr. Fraser's absence overseas, the Acting Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition or his representative. The national ceremony will be held one hour after the commencement of the ringing of bells. The ceremony will be broadcast on a Dominion-wide hook-up. LOCAL CELEBRATIONS. "The form which community celebrations shall take should, tlte Government feels, be left to the civic authorities themselves, both municipal and county, throughout the Dominion. These ceremonies should not begin for at least two hours after the ringing of bells. In many centres plans for marking the occasion are already in hand, and it is gratifying to note that in these instances, as it is hoped will be the casa in all, due prominence is being given to the spirit of thanksgiving. "In expressing the hope that all Mayors of cities and boroughs, county chairmen, and chairmen cf independent town boards and road boards will organise and control local celebrations to provide adequate opportunity for every community to express jpy and gratitude, the Government desires to give assurance of its own willingness to co-operate wherever it can appropriately do so, and will instruct the broadcasting services also to work as closely as possible with the local authorities. "It is proposed that the Sunday following the announcement of the cessation of hostilities should be, set aside as a day of prayer and thanksgiving and the Government invites the heads of all churches in New Zealand to arrange for special services to be held in their churches on that day. PAID HOLIDAYS. "That portion of the day remaining after the announcement as well as the following day will be paid holidays for all Government employees, including casual labour and those working under awards," said Mr. Nash. "Those departments unable to close down entirely during the period mentioned will give equivalent pay or leave in lieu of pay to each worker employed on the days involved. The Government invites all local authorities and private employers to observe similar holidays with pay in the same manner as has been decided upon for Government employees. "Schools throughout, the Dominion will ■be closed for the two days referred to. Further details in this connection will be communicated to the school authorities by the Minister of Education (Mr. Mason). "There is hardly need to emphasise that the cessation of hostilities in Europe will not mean the end of the war," added Mr. Nash. "That grim fact must necessarily tinge our rejoicings with a sense of responsibility —a responsibility for assuming full share in the overthrow of our enemy nearer home, Japan. Our all-in efforts, therefore, must not be relaxed, rather should they be intensified so that the interval between now and the complete defeat of totalitarian ideas of government may be reduced to the absolute minimum."