N.Z. CELEBRATIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 28 April 1945, Page 4

N.Z. CELEBRATIONS

END OF EUROPEAN WAR OFFICIAL PROPOSALS ISSUED Wellington, This Day. The Government’* proposals for the nation's celebration of the end of hostilities in Europe vfero outlined by the Acting Prime Minister, Mr. Nash, in a statement lust evening, "it is not possible at the moment to say when the end will come or the form the cessation of 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 on use for great thanksgiving and jubilation. "Immediately after the official notification has been received the fact will be made known to the public by ihe ringing of bells and the sounding of sirens. Flags will be flown and hunting displayed. It is anticipated that the circumstances of the a vent will permit of a formal pronouncement. Thi* will be made by his Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall. from the main slops of Parliament House, or, if the grounds are not. sufficiently restored, from some other suitable place to be announced biter.

"Other sneakers at this national ceremony will be tile Prime Minister, or. in the event of Mr. Fraser's absence o\'*rseas, the Acting-Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition or his representative. The national ceremony will he held one hour after the commencement of the ringing of bells. The ceremony will be broadcast oil u Doiniuiou-wide hookup.

Community Celebrations. ‘The form which community cclcbra irons shall lake should, the Government feels, he Jeff 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 hells. In many centres plans for marking the occasion arc already in hand and it is gratifying to note that in these instances, as it is hoped •will he the case in all. due prominence is living given to the spirit of thanksgiving. "In expressing the hope that all mayors ot cities and boroughs, county chairmen. and chairmen of independent town boards ami road boards will organise and control local celebrations io provide adequate opportunity for every community to express joy and gratitude, the Government desires to give assurance of its own willingness to co-operate wherever iL 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 tlie announcement of the ce>nation of hostilities should be set aside ft* a day of prayer and thanksgiving ami the Government invites the heads of all churches in New Zealand to arrange for special services to be held iu their churches on that day. Holidays For Workers. ‘That portion of the day remaining ’alter the announcement as well a* the following day will he paid holidays lor nil Government employees, including casual labour and those working under awards.” said Mr. Nash. "Those departments unable to close down entirely during the period mentioned will give 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 pav in the same manner as has been decided upon for Government employees. "Schools throughout the Dominion will he closed for the two days referred to. Further details in this connexion will he communicated to the school authorities by the Minister of Edii iHion. Mr. Mu*»n. "There is hardly need to emphasize that the cessation of hostilities in Europe will not mean the end of the war," added Mr. Nash. "That grim fact must necessarily tinge our rejoicings with a m* u« of responsibility—a responsibility for assuming full share in the overthrow of our eneinv nearer horn**. 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 totalitarian ideas of government may be reduced to the absolute minimum.''