THE PROCLAMATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18141, 5 July 1919, Page 7

THE PROCLAMATION.

READ IN CATHEDRAL SQUARE. BIG NOONDAY GATHERING. Although the King's Proclamation of Peace was read publicly on Thursday night by the Mayor, in accordance, with the wishes of the Government, the late hour at which tho notice was received, and the consequent small attendance of the public when it was read robbed the occasion of much ot itß local interest. Tho Mayor's decision to read the Proclamation again yesterday, in the noon hour, in Cathedral Square, was welcomed by many citizens, and although the weather was dull, a very large crowd turned out to honour the occasion. The sun came out to warm up the proceedings. A big Union Jack was spread on the balcony of the hotel. When the Mayor appeared at -"- 10 ; wearing the chain but not the robes ot office there was a very largo crowd m the Square, strongly reinforced bv a contingent of High School students. The Mayor was accompanied by tne Mayoress (Mrs Thacker) and among others on the balcony were the lown Clerk (Mr H R. Smith). Colonel Chaffer Officer Commanding the _ Canterbury District, and other civio digmtarie3'THE MAYOR'S SPEECH. Dr Thacker, addressin e the crowd, Baid that it was his delightful duty to read to the citizens of Chnstchurch the Klorious message of peace, which he had received through the Secretary of State for the Colonies from his Majesty. The reading of the proclamation was followed by cheers for the King and Queen and for the soldiersj andjailors The Mayor referred to the fact that the day was the anniversary of American independence, and he declared that the day saw the opening of an era of Peace for the whole world He, called on those present to take off their hats in memory of the men who had laid down their lives in the cause of liberty pnd to dedicate their lives to the duty of caring for the dependents of these men. They had beaten the Huns at their own game of war (applause); let them now beat the Huns, in industry and commerce. The civilian army which was going to resurrect the world, however, must not permit of extreme poverty and wealth living side by side. The Tropic must be pronerly housed and fed, and there must be a brotherhood of man. There must never come a time when these "hellish Huns" would again insidiously get among the people of New Zealand, and although thev would try thev must be met with a solid barrier. Above all there must 1)«* no profiteerine, and he considered that a war profiteer was "as damnable as a Hun." (Applause.) A LONG PEACE.

Colonel Chaffey said that the Feelings of everybody could be expressed m a few words. They could thank God that they had -come through a long war, »irtd they could pray for a long peace. New Zealand had earned the right to bo regarded as a component part of the Empire by spending her best blood, and he hoped that the Dominion would take her full share of the world's commerce, securing a proper understanding between Capital and Labour. m and that the manhood of the Dominion would always be ready to defend the principles of liberty and justice and the country and its commerce. (Applause). THE DEBT TO THE NAVY, j Mr J. J. Dougall, representing the League, said that after the horrors of the past five years it was difficult to realise that the white dove of peace was in the proverbial dovecote. It was hard to realise that peace had come, but harder to realise the tremendous height attained by the British. Empire. It had reached the highest p'oint it was possible for any naiion to reach. The position could be maintained only bj the united efforts of the whole Empire. The most grievous mistake made by the Hun was that the Empire would not hold together. The JJattle of Jutland had been described as indecisive; but what could be more decisive than the cowardly and humiliating surrender of the German Navy with its tail between its legsP The Royal Vavy had made the winning of the war possible- It had enabled New Zealand to live in peace and to send tin Expeditionary Force to Europe. It had enabled America also to send her armies and had enabled the British to transport their vast armies to France. The Germans ware saying that they would fight again. They said so in the clearest possible language. The British had to be prepared until the German, repented and showed that he was a regenerated man. , At Mr Dougall's request three cheers were given for the Navy and for Lord Jellicoe. A PATRIOTIC SONGSTER. At ,the conclusion of the speech-mak-ing Miss Carrie Lanceley, who was introduced by the Mayor as an energetic war worker in LondoM, sang a verse of " God Save Our Men," for which she was heartily cheered. < The Mayor thanked the citizens for their attendance, and the gathering dispersed just as a heavy shower of rain came on after a most timely interval of sunshine. CHILDREN'S DAY. At the meeting of the Canterbury Board of Education yesterday it was resolved:—"That in view of the. preparations already made for a 'Children's Day' in connection with the Peace Celebrations, and having regard to the great disappointment that will be felt if this portion of the original . programme should not be adhered to, the board inform all school committees of its wish that Monday, July 21, shall bo observed as ' Children's Day,' on which day, as well as providing suitable entertainment for the children, all possible steps should be taken to impress upon them the significance of the occasion and the inestimable blessings that would follow a universal and prolonged peace; further, that the following day be observed as a school holiday." PROGRAMME IN ASHBURTON. . In. spite of a heavy downpour of rain jhere was a fairly representative meeting of the several peace celebration committees in the Ashburton Borough Council Chambers on Thursday night. The Mayor (Mr R. Galbraith), who presided, said that the proposal to hold the peace celebrations on July 19, in- * stead of on three days in August, would be an advantage as far as Ashburton - was concerned, as they could save a good deal of money and put it into the war memorial fund. The day could bo made one-for entertaining tho children, which, after all, was the most important feature of the celebrations. Mr F. Ferriman said he tho soldiers should have their day. but Major Orr thought there would be great difficulty in getting tho soldiers to do .anything besides talcing part in the procession and playing a football match in the afternoon.. Mr F. Smith thought they need not depart in one single item from the original proposal. The one day would be a. great success. They could have tho procession and the children's sports during the day and the fireworks and bonfire at night. It was generally Considered that there would be some difficulty in respect to the catering at the proposed luncheon, but in all probability the difficulty would be overcome, as one caterer had partly promised to d'o the catering. ' It was unanimously decided to carry out tho original programme in its entirety, including a procession in the morningi a free luncheon to all returned soldiers, cadatu, territorials and

veterans, children's sports in the afternoon (weather permitting) and fireworks in the evening. _ __ ~ Mr F. Smith and Mr F. W. Wa.pt wero appointed joint secretaries, in place of Mr A. M'Clure, who has been laid up with a serious illnessOn the motion of Mr Watt, seconded by the Rev Nelson Wright, it was decided not to hold a united relnnous service, as each of the denominations would be holding thanksgiving services in their respective churches. It was decided to render the musical portion of the programme on the night of the 18th, and to ask Mr Alpers.to give an address on the same evening; failing Mr Alpers, Mr Lowe will be asked to-give an address. POSTPONEMENT SUGGESTED IN SYDNEY. Australian mid N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, July 4. The Peace Committee is urging the State Government to postpone the Peace celebrations until August, in view of tho prevalence of influenza. IN THE CHURCHES. Special Peace services will be held in most of the citv churches to-morrow, including the Anglican Cathedral. St Paul's Presbyterian Church, Knox Church. St Luke's, St David's (Sydenham), Durham Street Methodist, Wesley (Fitzgerald Avenue), St Albans Methodist, Trinity ' Congregational, Cambridge Terrace Methodist and the Linwood Baptist Churches. Services will also be held at the Wesleyan churches at New Brighton, Richmond, Linwood. Shirley and Marshland. A citizens' thanksgiving service will be held on the esplanade, Sumner, tomorrow, at 3 p.m. Should the weather be unfavourable the servico will be held in the Town Hall. A public service of thanksgiving for peace will be held in the Oddfellows' Hnll, Woolston. at 3 p.m. to-morrow. The Peace Service Choir will meet for rehearsal in the Durham Street Methodist Church this evening, at 7-30 o'clock. > THE ALTERATION OF DATEJ3. Considerable discussion took place at the monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council yesterday in regard to the alteration of the day for the Peace celebrations. Councillor W. T. Lill and other members expressed the opinion that the public had been fooled in connection with tho dateß and a strong protest should be made to the Government on the matter. Councillor Lill said he had only just sent an order to Otago for a supply of fruit for tho chil • dren of his district (Willowby), and he was very doubtful if he could now get the fruit in time for July 19. After some further strong comments by members against the alteration of the dates, the matter was allowed to drop. The Mayor requests City Councillors and their wives to attend the morning service at the Cathedral to-morrow. "Mr J. H. Blackwell, Mayor _ of Kaiapoi, and ministers of the various religious denominations held a meeting yesterday, when it was decided to hold thanksgiving services in all churches an Sunday, and to hold a united thanksgiving Bervice in the Drill Hall on Sunday. July 20, when special music will be rendered by the combined choirs. ARRANGEMENTS IN WELLINGTON, [Pes Peess Aesocunoir.} WELLINGTON, July 4. At a meeting cf the City Council this afternoon, the Mayor referred to the latest proposals for the Peace celebrations, and said he had invited the citizens to observe a holiday on the Monday as well as the Saturday. It would be impossible to hold a children's demonstration on the Saturday. The council endorsed the Mayor's proposals. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. [Pes Pbssi Association.] NAPIER, July 4. The following message to the Presbyterian Church has been issued by the Moderator:—"ln accordance with the gracious advice and exhortation of his Majesty the Kingj I hereby call upon the ministers, missionaries and people of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand to observe "next Lord's Day, July 6 t as a day of solemn national thanksgiving for Peace, by participating in their several places of worship in the great act of common adoration and praise appointed for all parts of the Empire.-— W. Gray Dixon, Moderator. GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES. CPxx Pais*; Association.] WELLINGTON, Julv 4. The Minister of Internal. Affairs states that the Government has decided that subsidies provided by tho State on moneys collected or voted by local authorities for the celebration of peace shall be paid only on sums expended for celebrations on the official day, July 19. The Minister said also that the railway service for the occasion would be provided only for July 19, and these services would have to be kept down to a minimum owing to the shortage of coal.