VICTORY CELEBRATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 25470, 28 April 1945, Page 10

VICTORY CELEBRATIONS

PROPOSALS FOR DOMINION STATEMENT BY MR NASH (Special) WELLINGTON, April 27. The Government's proposals ror the nation's celebration of tlie end of hostilities in Europe were outlined by the Acting Prime Minister, Hon. W. Nash, in a statement to-day. " It is not possible at tne moment to say when the end will come or the form that the cessation of the conflict may take," Mr Nash said. "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 news will be made known to the public by the ringing of bells and the sounding of sirens. Flags will he flown and 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 the bells. The ceremony wil be broadcast on a Dominioruwide hook-up. COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS. " The form which the community celebrations shall take should, the 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 the 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 case in all, due prominence is being given to the spirit of thanksgiving. " hi expressing the hope that all the mayors of and boroughs, county chairmen, and "chairmen of independent town boards and road boards will organise and control the local celebrations to provide adequate opportunity for every community to express joy and gratitude, the Government desires to'give an assurance of its 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 hostilites should be set aside as a day of prayer and thanksgiving, and the Government invites the heads of all the churches in New Zealand to arrange for special services to be held in the churches on that day. TWO-DAY HOLIDAY. " 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. Those departments un= able to close down entirely during the period mentioned will be given 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. " The schools throughout the Dominion will be closed for the two j days referred to, and further details in this connection will be communicated to the school authorities by the Minister of Education, Mr Mason. I " There is hardly need to emphasise j that the cessation of hostilities in Europe Will not mean the end of the war," Mr Nash concluded. _ " That grim fact must necessarily tinge our rejoicings with a sense of the responsibility for assuming a full share in the overthrow of our pnemv 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 the totalitarian ideas of government may be reduced to the absolute minimum."