PEACE CELEBRATION

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18143, 8 July 1919, Page 5

PEACE CELEBRATION

THE SCHOOL CHILDREN.

FREE PASSAGES ON TEAMS

, Tho secretary of the Peace Celebration Committee wrote to the tramway Board yesterday asking it to arrange for the free transit of school children on trams on Peace. Celebration Pay. , . , Tlio chairman (Eon J. Barr) said that some 4000 children were estimated to take part in the procession. The hoard did not know whether jt would he expected to take them back to their districts. . Mr H. Pearce said that if the hoard carried school children free it could hardly refuse to carry other children • The chairman said that the request, was for only school children who could take part in the procession. It would he impossible to take them hack after the functions, but arrangements could ho made to take them to the site of the functions. It was decided, on the motion or Mr tV. J. Walter, seconded by Mr b. A. Staples, that the children should bo carried one way free-

COMMITTEE AND MINISTERS.

Mr J. A. Flesher, chairman of tho Christchurch Peace Celebrations Programme Committee, has received a reply from the Hon G. AY. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, to tho telegramwhich he sent to tho Minister 'on Saturday, pointing out that the committee viewed with alarm tliQ decision or tho Government to pay a subsidy on sums expended for celebrations on July I J Mr Russell replied that Cabinet had already decided t'o have the celebrations on July 19 only, but he asked Mr Flesher to wire at once giving the exact amount of tho extra expenditure involved in the committee’s contracts for Monday’s arrangements, which had been mudo rs a result of Cabinet s previous decision* Cabinet had acted in accordance with his Majesty’s request in deciding on the one-day arrangement, but if the information asked foe was supplied he was prepared to submit the matter to Cabinet for reconsideration. . . . Mr Flesher replied giving the information desired an pointed out to tho Minister that the committee cannot go back on its arrangements. On Monday the children’s procession and the returned soldiers’ procession would be held. The expenditure in this connection, including also the fireworks display, would amount to £992 and it was for this that the subsidy was required. Mr Flesher added that the arrangements' were on so large a scale that it was impossible to hold everything on the Saturday. Fifteen thousand children would bo entertained on Monday and in making its arrangements the committee had merely acted in accordance with the previous decision of tho Government to hold the celebrations on three days. Auckland and Wellington were also holding tho celebrations on the three days and it was the duty of the Government to keep 1 faith with its former promise.

RAILWAY CONCESSIONS

The Hon G. W. Russell has telegraphed to the Mayor stating, with regard to railway services, that, if the Minister can arrange it, soldiers and children will he carried free on trains on July 19, but children will be carried only to the nearest town in which celebrations will be held.

LOCAL PLANS

The Mayor announced yesterday that arrangements for illuminations and displays in the city were well advanced. It had been intended, he said, to have great arches at tlie entrances to Cathedral Square, but as they would interfere with the el'ectric wires, those sites woro impracticable and others, in central places, would bo selected. The Mayor has received the following telegram from tho Minister of Internal Affairs :—“ Cabinet lias resolved that Peace Celebrations shall bo continued on Monday, July 21, which shall be Children’s Day, but no special trains can be arranged.”

Special thanksgivings for peace were made at all services at St Barnabas’, Fandnlton. 'on Sundav last The King’s Proclamation was followed by the National Anthem.. and there were selected portions of Scrinturo and special Psalms and hvmns. The evening service followed the form of prnver issued during the armistice. _ The Rev Canon T. A. Hamilton 'officiated at all services and preached from the texts, ‘‘The things that belong to thy peace ” (Luke xix-, ‘ill and “ The peace of God which passoth all understanding” (Phil, iv., 7). At the close of the evening service an anthem and Jackson’s “To Deum ” were sung, and the congregation stood whilst the “Hallelujah Chorus ” - was being played. The 'attendances were good.

CABINET’S DECISION.

SECOND DAY AGREED TO.

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 7. Cabinet decided, in connection with the Peace Celebrations, that Monday, Julv 21, should be observed as a. public holiday, and agreed to pay subsidies to local bodies for that day, as well as for Saturday, July 19.

TO ECONOMISE COAL.

RESTRICTION OF ILLUMINATIONS

[Per Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, July 7.

Sir James Allen informed a reporter to-night that the Government has decided, in view of the acute shortage of coal, that no poaco illuminations involving consumption of coal were .to he allowed. No subsidy would be paid by the Government ni cases where such illuminations bad taken place. This would apply to all celebrations on Peace Day, July 19. The Minister explained that tho prohibition covered tho use of gas and electric lights in cases where current was produced by means of coal. Thero were some centres where the supply of electricity was not dependent upon the burning of coal.