POOR ATTENDANCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23281, 17 August 1945, Page 4

POOR ATTENDANCE

Thanksgiving Service (N.Z.P.A.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 16. In drizzling rain that fell from a leaden sky, a brief citizens’ service of thanksgiving was held at the apex of the Town Hall. The attendance did not exceed 2000 or 3000 and was disappointingly small in view of the solemnity and purpose of the occasion. It represented only a small fraction of the considerable crowd that was then in the city, many of whom were continuing the celebrations of yesterday, further down Queen Street. Simultaneously with the opening of the service, a Royal salute of 21 guns was fired from Albert Park by a battery of 25-pounder field guns. Throughout the salute the gathering stood to attention. Similar services were held in all the suburbs. Hooliganism Rife

The most regrettable aspect of the day was one of the worst displays of hooliganism Auckland has ever been unfortunate enough to witness. In a statement issued during the morning the Mayor (Mr J. A. c. Allum) criticised the conduct of a small section of the communitv whose actions on Wednesday he described as being “disgusting.” Most of the people had been well-behaved, he said, but the actions of this minority had marred the pleasure of the majority. By 3 o’clock this afternoon it was apparent that this irresponsible element was again in the city in force, and emboldened by the good-humoured indulgence shown to them the previous day they threw good taste to the winds and regarded the occasion as one of mere licence for destruction and displays of hooliganism. Toward the late evening the crowds thinned out and the police, whose job had been an unenviable one, were able to exert stricter control and prevent a recurrence of the worst excesses.