TEMUKA CARNIVAL REIGNS SUPREME

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23281, 17 August 1945, Page 3

TEMUKA CARNIVAL REIGNS SUPREME

Huge Crowd Assembles At Domain Celebrations Go With A Swing The spirit of carnival reigned supreme with the huge crowd that assembled at the Temuka Domain yesterday afternoon to express in fitting manner their sense of relief that peace had come at last to a war-weary world. Nearly everyone in the district must have turned out to participate in the gathering and to see the fun. From the time the long procession gathered at Dyson Street, the occasion was one of revelry and wholehearted enjoyment, tempered by the warning note sounded by the speakers that the peace had still to be won and that the fight for a lasting peace had commenced. Led by the Temuka Pipe Band and the Municipal Band, and with members of the Returned Services’ Association in the place of honour at the head, the procession formed a colourful spectacle. A long line of decorated vehicles was followed by many children in fancy dress. The comic element was far from lacking. The scene at the Domain was a riot of colour as the floats lined up on the track around the Band Rotunda and the large concourse of spectators, interspersed with adults and children in fanciful costumes, gathered on the lawns to listen to the speakers. Afterwards the crowd lined the Oval, where more than 150 children in fancy dress paraded before the judges, the Mayoress (Mrs G. A. Harris) and Mesdames W. F. Evans and F. M. Martin. The assembly was kept amused by the antics of the P.W.D. Grand Symphonic Swing Band, an erratic motor car and a number of other comedy items. One of the attractions was a number of Maori action songs by a concert party from Arowhenua. Every entrant in the children’s fancy dress and decorated vehicle events received a prize and the children lined up at the grandstand to receive free buns and soft drinks. Races for the children concluded the function at the Domain, but the revellers adjourned to the main street, where the celebrations were resumed, while the hotels did a roaring trade. “No More War” All who spoke emphasised that there must be no more war. "We arc gathered to-day to celebrate peace after the greatest war the

world has ever known,” said the Mayor (iMr G. A. Harris). “We remember the men and women of the fighting forces who have brought us this victory; we remember those on the home front, the workers on the farms and in the factories; we remember, too, the scientific devices which assisted to end the war. We pledge ourselves to so alter our standard of living that in future we will banish the spectre of war from this planet, otherwise there is every possibility of the atomic bomb and all that the harnessing of this gigantic energy will mean to mankind will banish us from the face of the earth.

"This day Is a proud memorial to the men who suffered and to the men who died,” said Mr J. Acland, M.P. “Let us not forget them; let us not forget their mothers and wives. Let us remember that our statesmen may draw the broader outlines for peace, but its preservation is a personal matter. It is in our homes, in our villages and in our cities that an enduring peace will be forged. The future is not so much in the hands of our statesmen as in the hands of the people themselves.”

“This is the second opportunity we have had to. establish a lasting peace,” said Mr A. J. Davey. “There is a solemn duty laid upon us to-day to see that each and every one of us practices tolerance and unselfishness in our own lives. Only thus can we get together and pull our weight in building a better world.” Mr A. E. Smith emphasised the significance of the occasion to the children. Many of them present had not known a world without war. They had seen sadness around them, but were more fortunate than children of other countries in that the actual devastation of war had not touched our country. He urged them to play their full share, by both example and precept, in building a better world jvere nations would live in peace. "This peace has been fought for. but is still perhaps to win,” said Mr J. L. Menzies, who pointed out that there was a responsibility on the parents as well as on the children. All should dedicate themselves to the cause of peace, he said? not only for the next 25 years, but for all time. "It is our bounden duty to see that there is no more war,” said Mr W Taylor. “We have not seen the horrors of war in our own fair country and we should resolve to make the whole world as good a place to live in as this Dominion and this town of Temuka.” The Rev. J. H. Woolford emphasised the fact that the dominant thought "hat day should be thanksgiving to God that we had come to the end of the war. The war had surely taught us that man was not capable of guiding his own destiny without the assistance of God. "To-day we see the Empire of Nippon shattered and practically obliterated.” said Mr W. Mihaka. “which is only as the Japanese thoroughly deserve. Today we find that East and West have met. The West has triumphed and the Japanese have surrendered unconditionally. To-day we remember those whose sacrifices brought us peace. Kia Ora.” Prize Winners Prize winners in the fancy dress and decorated vehicle events were:— Fancv dress, girls: Jean McNeil 1. Crissy Pearce 2, Agnes Day 3. Younger girls: Rayleen Edwards 1. Lenore Woods and Heather Turner (equal) 2. Helen Hurst 3. Boys: Graham Holweli 1. Barry Hutcheson 2. Cyril Brosnahan 3. Decorated bicy.les. girls: Raywin McCallum 1. Joan Shanks 2. Rosalie Hammond 3. Boys: Russell Brown 1. lan Cross 2, Pcx Cross 3. Decorated tricycles: Brian Eddington 1. Ngaire Pearce 2. David Macdonald 3 Decorated prams and scootersGlynda Howies 1, Jean McNeil 2. Brian Turner 3.