CELEBRATING THE PEACE

Evening Star, Issue 25472, 1 May 1945, Page 4

CELEBRATING THE PEACE

PREPARATIONS IN OUNEDIN MAYGft'S APPEAL TO CITIZENS Amendments to the tentative armistice celebration arrangements made by the civic authorities and an appeal to citizens to join in the observances wholeheartedly were made to-day by the Mayor (Mr D. C. Cameron), who j emphasised that Dunedin must be pre- j pared to commemorate the cessation of large-scale fighting operations in Europe. - As already provided, the day the news is will be observed as a public holiday, with a short civic service to be conducted two hours after the ringing of the Town Hall beil.' while the day following will be devoted to a citizens' thanksgiving service in the Octagon and a victory concert in the Town Hall in the evening, Because of the approach of the school holidays, the proposed services for children and young people which had been arranged for the second day atfte/ the declaration of the armistice will not now be held until the schools resume. School children will, of course, be dismissed following the receipt of the armistice news, while' head masters will briefly address their pupils on the significance of the occasion before they return home. "As soon as the news comes through we want everybody to celebrate by the blowing of factory whistles, the ringing of church bells and the sounding of sirens," . said the Mayor this morning. The "all clear" will be sounded on E.P.S. sirens, while special announcements will be broadcast by the local radio stations. All bandsmen are urged to parade Ifor the civic service, the actual time of which will, bo announced by the Mayor. Bandsmen will assemble, under Mr James Dixon, within the grounds of St. Paul's Cathedral, in front ,of the steps. Members of choirs functioning in the city are also urged to assist. PROVISIONS FOR MOTHERS. Special arrangements to cater for the crowds expected in the main streets are now being made. _ At the request of the Plunket Society, the Main Town Hall will be reserved on the first two days to enable mothers to rest and leave their prams. The hall will be open from about an hour before the beginning of the civic service on the day the news is received and from 9 o'clock on the morning of the second day. To render first aid where necessary, officers of the St. John Ambulance Association will tiatrol the Octagon and Princes and George streets; with a central aid post established in the Central Mission premises. ILLUMINATION OF HOUSES. As a special gesture to mark the return of comparative freedom from war's restrictions and cares, all citizens are specially urged by the Mayor to illuminate their homes on the first and second evenings of the celebrations. " The suggestion has been, advanced by a correspondent, and I think it worthy of being endorsed," said Mr Cameron. "We want citizens to put on every light in their houses that can be seen from the streets and leave their blinds up, so that the significance of the gesture may be fully appreciated." > CURTAILMENT, OF TRADING HOURS. While final arrangements for the carrying on of retail trade operations have riot yet been made, the following tentative details were announced this morning:— The city's transport services will maintain, the normal schedules at least, said the chairman 'of the Transport Committee (Cr J. McCrae) this morning. There was no thought of restricting this service to the piiblio in any way.

Grocers are at present expected to remain open for two hours after the announcement of the armistice, as requested by the Government. They will then close for the remainder of that day and the whole of the succeeding day.

Butchers will observe the same .measures as grocers, announced the president of the Dunedin Master Butchers' Association (Mr J. E. Bartlett). Members of the public when arranging orders in the near future would, he added, avoid the hardship which might arise through their being unable to procure meat for several days. If, for example, the first of the holidays fell on a Friday, Mr Bartlett explained, no meat would be on sale until the following Monday.