Fiji's VE-Day
p. 15 · Read in the full issue
Radio and Village Drums Spread
the News purs VE-Day celebrations were
r unmarred by official regulation.
As soon as the news came through, on Tuesday, May 8, that hostilities had ceased, a holiday was declared, and workers immediately left their work —unlike Australia, which one corres pondent described as the gloomiest country in the world on VE-Day
with the possible exception of Ger
many.
The following report of Fiji’s Vic
tory Day activities comes from the
Information Office, Suva :
IN Suva* there were some radio listeners who heard the 6 o’clock announce ment from London that Tuesday was to be VE-Day; taut in view of the broadcast at the same time of New Zealand’s decision not to have a holiday until Wednesday, there was some doubt as to what was going to happen in Fiji.
So everybody went to work as usual and the town wore its normal air.
At 8.15 a.m. the Governor spoke from ZJV and the holiday announcement was made. By this time, churchbells were ringing and lalis were being beaten. In the space of almost minutes, shops and buildings were decked with bunting and flags appeared on motor cars. Shops which had flags to sell sold out quickly.
Soon all doors were closed and workers were on their way home. There was a general atmosphere of elation and relief —elation at victory and relief that friends and relations in Britain or serving in the armed forces in Europe were free from the threat of death or injury.
At Nausori the news was received early.
The CSR Co.’s mill whistle was blown continuously, and the lali at the Govern ment Station at Naduruloulou was beaten.
This was the signal for the lalis in village after village to begin, and so the news spread for many miles.
It recalled the arrangement which was made in the years when threat of in vasion by the Japanese was real, and when representatives in every village were carefully coached, so that at a pre arranged signal they could pass on by lali beats the information that the Japanese had landed.
They never did land; and on May 8 the sound of the lalis brought much more joyous news.
Fijian children had a great time. They beat tins and boxes and drums, and any thing that would make a noise.
In other parts of the Colony, what happened in Suva and in the Rewa area was repeated in greater or less degree.
Flags were flown, and shops and public buildings were decorated. The mood of the people was not one of wild rejoicing.
They certainly smiled and sang, and in some cases * drank toasts, but in most people’s minds there was the thought that another enemy still remained and that victory day in the Pacific had still to come.
MR. CHURCHILL’S speech came through at 1 a.m., Wednesday, Fiji time. He was followed by the King, speaking to the Empire. Wednes day also was a holiday, but it was observed generally throughout the Colony as a day of thanksgiving. Religious ser vices were held in most places by the various churches, and also in the Moslem mosque and the Hindu temple.