“To-morrow’s Tangle to Itself Resign”

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 191, 14 August 1945, Page 5

“To-morrow’s Tangle to Itself Resign”

City Prepares to Let Its Hair Down

ARRANGEMENTS FOR OFFICIAL CELEBRATIONS CLARIFIED

Plans for the official victory celebrations in Palmerston North have been clarified as a result of a meeting of the Victory Celebrations Committee held yesterday afternoon under the chairmanship of his Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. E. Mansford). To cope with the problem of the time of day at which the eagerly awaited news might be received, three separate and distinct sets of arrangements have been drawn up. To avoid any possibility of confusion, these are clearly set out below. If the News Is Received Before 8 a.m.: First day: Independent thanksgiving services will be held in the suburban churches at 9.30 a.m. and in the city churches at 10 a.m. At 11 a.m. the procession comprising advertised units will move off from the Opera House and when the march is finished a combined thanksgiving service, similar to that held on VE Day will be held at the band rotunda in the Square. At 2.30 p.m. another combined service will be held in the Opera House (with any overflow in St. Andrew’s Church) with combined choirs participating under the baton of Mr. J. H. Runnieles. In the evening there will be public festivities in the Square until midnight, with music provided by the various bands, community singing and open-air dancing. The Scouts, Guides, Cubs and Brownies will take part, along with other youth organisations, in a large torch-light procession from the Opera House to the College Street School. Second day: A carnival programme has been arranged by the Manawatu Retailers’ Associatiou and the Manawatu Employers’ Association. This will incorporate a procession in which will be included decorated floats, lorries, cars, etc., and further community singing around the band rotunda. If the News is Received After 8 a.m. and Before 12 Noon: First day: Combined service at the Opera House at 2.30 p.m. and in the evening the programme as outlined above for the evening of the first day. Second day: Independent thanksgiving services at the suburban churches at 9.30 a.m. and the city churches at 10 a.m., followed by the procession at 11 a.m. and combined service at the band rotunda. At 2 p.m. the major procession including the decorated floats, and other carnival festivities.

If the News is Received After 12 Noon: No celebrations will be held until the following day when the programme as outlined in the event of the news being received before 8 a.m. will be adhered to. An atmosphere of suppressed, almost tense, expectancy prevailed throughout the city yesterday, and in the afternoon the news of Mr. Mackenzie King's reported announcement spread like wildfire through the business area. Everywhere people were waiting for the bells and sirens to sound as the signal of the realisation of the culminating moment for which so many anxious and weary years have been spent in anticipation. Citv Council workmen during the day completed the work of decorating the streets with bunting and a wooden dais was erected near the band rotunda. Shops and business premises have bettered their efforts for VE Day in decorating their buildings, and yesterday afternoon the city presented a colourful and joyous appearance. The stage has been well and truly set for unprecedented celebrations. If the jubilations begin with the vital element of spontaneity, VJ Day will be an historic highlight in the annals of Palmerston North.