FALSE PEACE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23278, 14 August 1945, Page 4

FALSE PEACE

Timaru Celebrates “Let Joy Be Unconfined” The shrieking of the Fire Brigade sirens, ringing of church (ells. the sounding of steamer and locomotive tVltistles, intermingled with the erratic chiming of the town clock, provoked a spontaneous display of hilarity which marked the celebration of the false V-J Day in Timaru yesterday afternoon. Soon the streets were thronged, and in Stafford street the crowds of "jayv.aikers’ became so dense that motor traffic was diverted to the side streets, tnop assistants hastily bedecked their P-—nises with flags and bunting, and numbers of the staff of the Municipal Department festooned the i>.uiucipal Chambers with coloured electric light bulbs. But the lights were not turned on—the news of the acceptance of the surrender of Japan was premature! Crowds of shop assistants, office employees and factory hands swarmed in the main streets, linked arm in arm and wearing paper hats and waving fiags. Even their elders added to the tumult by sounding their motor-car horns until the congestion became too great in Stafford Street and vehicles were diverted to the side streets. The appearance of an ancient model, of which Henry Ford might well have been proud, created much enthusiasm and it was cheered as it made its somewhat hesitant way up Stafford Street accompanied by the loud “chugchug” of its by no means silent engine. Motor-cycles with strings of kerosene tills attached added to the din, and the swinging of Wooden rattles, modelled on those originally used by London nightwatchmen, enhanced the uproar. So it continued for several hours until the whisper spread that the news was premature. “Let joy be unconfined” was still the slogan, and the merrymakers proceeded on their way. the general attitude being that even if the Japanese had not formally surrendered they soon would. “It’s all ill wind which blows nobody any good” might well have been the motto of the hotelkeepers whose continuously ringing cash registers had seldom been obliged to function at such a pace. The rumour of free beer at one hotel led to a packed house, and it was impossible to get near the bar, glasses being passed overhead. Even last evening the sound of revelry continued, bands of young people inarching arm in arm along Stafford Street, and here and there hearty choruses could be heard which made uo in volume for the lack of tune. Those who had celebrated not wisely but too well no doubt went to bed with a hope that they would be sufficiently recovered to celebrate the occasion properly when the real news breaks. No Bread To-morrow As a result of the premature announcement yesterday, the bakers prepared enough dough for two days. It will be baked to-day and to-morrow will be observed as a holiday.

Arrangements for the baking of bread to be observed throughout the Dominion were announced yesterday by Mr A. B. Brownlie, of Auckland. New Zealand president of the Master Bakers’ Association. “When the official declaration of peace is made by the Prime Minister,” said Mr Brownlie, "bread will be baked on that evening for delivery the following day. The two following days will then be observed as holidays by the baking Industry. It Is understood from the New Zealand executive that the Baking Employees’ Union concurs in this proposal, which agrees also with the expressed wish of the Prime Minister.”