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Radio coverage by station 2ZB of V.J. Day celebrations in Wellington on 15 [and 16] August 1945.
2ZB broadcast from the cable room of The Dominion newspaper. An unidentified male announcer says they are waiting in the cable room for the official declaration of peace, which has not yet come through. Typewriting is heard in the background. He reads the morning's newspaper headline, "Vast fleet waits off Japan. Aerial attack continues."
He is alongside Mr Peter Harding, the cable editor who is interviewed. He says he has just had a telephone from the New Zealand Press Association which says the cable is due any moment. Mr Harding then reads the cable from London which says the Japanese reply to the peace terms is being delivered to the American government and other Allies. Another cable then comes through from London, which he reads: "Attlee officially announced Japan surrendered." The newspaper's Chief Reporter, Mr Watson speaks briefly about the busy time the newspaper has had.
[irregular speed on this disc] 2ZB broadcast by unidentified male announcer from outside the station's studios in the Hope Gibbons Building as peace is announced by Prime Minister Peter Fraser. The station is broadcasting his speech out into the street and it can be heard being broadcast in the background. Vox pops with several men, women and children with their reaction to the peace, including a pair of returned soldiers who are looking forward to a few beers. Sirens are heard in the background as the news spreads.
Announcer Rex Walden describes the scene outside the Grand Opera house with crowds on Manners St and outside James Smith's Corner; Highland Pipe Band and Trentham Military Band play. He hands the microphone over to another male announcer identified as 'Griffo'. He describes the crush of people in the streets down to the 2ZB office in the Hope Gibbons building [corner Taranaki Street].
People are on the tops of cars, balconies and the rain is not deterring them; There are no signs of 'hooliganism' and people are fraternising happily. Scots College Pipe Band plays as people dance the highland fling and streamers fill the street. Announcers hand back to the studio.
2ZB broadcast from the top of The Royal Oak Hotel, Manners Street, Wellington by announcer 'Griff'. The Trentham Military Band plays in the background, no one is paying any attention to the rain. He hands over to announcer Rex Walden who describes crowds all the way down Courtenay Place. Thousands of people in the street all the way to the St George Hotel as well, despite the rain.
2ZB Broadcast from the wharf. The Wellington Watersiders Band plays 'Tipperary'. The unidentified male announcer says the time is 3.40pm, Thursday [16 Aug 1945.] He records some vox pops with members of the public who comment briefly about the war being over. The band plays 'Colonel Bogey' as the public dance. He signs off.
An unidentified male 2ZB announcer broadcasts from Eastbourne. [Possibly the following day 16 Aug 1945 - appears to be later in the evening.] The Eastbourne Band [sic. later corrected to Hutt Municipal Band] is playing in the distance and the harbour is a mill pond. He describes seeing bonfires around the harbour and the lights of Wellington which had been dimmed during the war. He pays tribute to the sound engineers who have been working hard since peace was declared. He talks about the searchlights on the outer harbour which were a military secret and couldn't be talked about during the war, tonight they are showing the 'V for Victory' sign.
2ZB Broadcast from Eastbourne. An unidentified male announcer describes the scene with The Hutt Municipal Band which plays 'Nursie, Nursie' and other songs, including "Roll out the Barrel", with the crowd singing. A woman shouts "Good Luck" to 17 Arthur St, Timaru.