WHIT MONDAY HOLIDAY

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22064, 15 June 1943, Page 3

WHIT MONDAY HOLIDAY

ENGLAND’S CAREFREE CROWDS (Received June 15, noon) LONDON, June 14 Most people in Britain took a day off from war work and spent Whit Monday in the traditional carefree atmosphere—within the bounds prescribed by travel and other restrictions. Hundreds of thousands of people watched the great United Nations Day parade and then thronged the parks, cinemas and restaurants. Various London boroughs provided galas as part of a nation-wide policy to make holiday at home attractive. East End people staged a traditional trek to the West End, exploring the famous streets which they do not see from year to year. There were no extra trains, so it was generally a stay-at-home holiday throughout the country. Loud speakers at Waterloo station endlessly warned would-be travellers to go home. The police made sure that motor-cars were not used by Ascot racegoers, so every form of horsedrawn vehicle was pressed into service, including farm carts, barouches and coaches which had not been seen for 20 years. Thousands of people walked miles to the course, where an enormous crowd gathered. The roads from London were packed with hikers and cyclists, the trek to Epping Forest beginning soon after midnight. The vast majority of the people had to make their own fun, but Britain generally will return to work tomorrow refreshed.