TEMUKA CAPITULATION OF GERMANY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23181, 20 April 1945, Page 3

TEMUKA CAPITULATION OF GERMANY

Celebrations Discussed By Council Special Committee To Make Arrangements

The question of what form official celebrations after the capitulation of Germany were to take was discussed at the monthly meeting of the Temuka Borough Council on Wednesday evening and it was decided that a special committee consisting of the Mayor (Mr G. A. Harris), the Deputy-Mayor (Cr. D. C. Clark) and Cr. L. F. N. Ward be set up to confer with members of the Progress League and the Ministers’ Association and decide what arrangements should be made. , “There is a possibility that it will be another two months before peace with Germany is concluded,” said the Mayor. That will not be the finish of the war, as there will still be Japan to contend with. If individuals desire to have a little jollification there is nothing to prevent them doing so, but I think the matter should be treated with discretion by the Council. Services have been arranged by the various churches after the receipt of the news, and arrangements might be made for the businessmen to close. Further than this I do not think we should go at the present time, and I am sure we will receive a definite lead from the Government on what official action should be taken. We should not celebrate with any idea that the war is finished. It is my firm- belief that the war with Japan may last another 18 months to two years, and fox’ that reason we should limit any celebrations deemed necessary.” Cr. Ward said he was astounded that some people wanted to rush in and celebrate. Most right-thinkirig people would agree that the celebrations should take the form of some sort of church service. There would be many sad hearts even after the defeat of Germany, and it would be premature to start any celebrations at all. The Council should give a lead in adopting a moderate attitude. Cr. E. G. Hancox: I think the bells should be rung and' church services held. If we are only going in for moderate celebrations, I would not be in favour of the shops closing. The Mayor suggested that a small committee be formed to meet representatives of the Progress League and the churches. This body could be called together at a monient’s notice and have power to reach finality.

On the motion of Crs. Hancox and T. N. Scott, this course was agreed upon. "This is really a job for the Government,” said the Mayor when a letter was received from the South Canterbury Vocational Guidance Association suggesting that the Council should join and pay a subscription of £l/1/-. “Vocational guidance is an important activity,” said Cr. Ward. "It is trying to direct the youth of the country into the right channels of education, and providing for theii’ future careers. However, I agree with the Mayor that we can hardly contribute.” Two letters were received asking for suggestions for post-war rehabilitation works. One was from the engineer of the Public Works Department at Temuka (Mr R. Mclntyre), and the other from the South Canterbury Regional . Planning Committee. Tire letters were referred to the Town Clerk (Mr P. G. Shave) and the borough foreman (Mr T. Devine) for a reply. The Temuka stationmaster acknowledged a complaint about the blockage of the crossing at Denmark Street by trains. The blockages were unavoidable, he said, owing to the -trains having been delayed for line repairs. These trains should be running on ordinary schedule within a few days. The District Engineer of the Railways Department at Christchurch advised that the attention of the lessee had been drawn to the noxious weeds growing on railway land at Temuka. The lessee had intimated that the land could not be cleared before the winter, as he was too busy. “This is an absolute eyesore,” said Cr. Ward. "The grass and broom obscures the railway lines and creates a danger.” The taking of legal action if necessary was left in the hands of the Town Clerk. The Minister of Railways (the Hon. R. Semple) thanked the Council for its expression of appreciation concerning the manner in which the railway line was reconstructed after the recent floods. He would be happy to convey the appreciation to those concerned, he said, and he had noted the suggestions for alterations to minimise flood damage in the future. These would be investigated. A letter from the Prime Minister’s Office, signed by Mr A. G. Osborne, M.P., acknowledged the Council’s request for a liberal subsidy in connection with the expenditure necessary for the restoration of the town of Temuka to a reasonable condition after the damage caused during the recent floods. The matter would have consideration, and the Council would be further advised. Financial Position “The Council’s position at the end of the financial year is very satisfactory,” said Cr. J. Gourley (chairman of the Finance Committee). The year ended

with a credit of £139 in the general account. There was an estimated credit of £376, but a number of special items bad been paid from the general account during the year. These included £l5O for fire hose, £l5l for additions to a Council house, £3OO toward the screening plant and £5O was placed to a reserve for fire brigade equipment. The Council had wiped out the debit in the hall account, and was in the satisfactory postion of having no accounts in debit, said Cr. Gourley. He congratulated the Town Clerk (Mi- P. G. Shave) on the prompt manner in which he got the accounts out and for his report. The possibility of the Army Department constructing a new floor in the Drill Hall was mentioned by the Town Clerk., After the flood, he said, the Army Department had sent an inspector to examine the damage, and some action was likely. The Temuka Young Women’s Basketball Club was granted the use of the Drill Hall on Tuesday evening for practices when it was not booked for other purposes.