TWENTY-ONE YEARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1928, Page 9

TWENTY-ONE YEARS.

AGE OF THE DOMINION. BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS. REVIEW OF NEW ZEALAND HISTORY. Not with stirring music or with loud acclaim are the people of New Zealand celebrating to-day the twenty-first anniversary of the conferring upon our country of the status of a Dominion, but nevertheless the occasion is one of the most important in our history.

As a strict record of time the anniversary falls on Wednesday next, for it was on September 26, 1907. that the Proclamation of His Majesty the King came into force changing the designation of the Colony of New Zealand to “the Dominion of New Zealand.” To-day, however, is the statutary date for the celebration of Dominion Day and so the anniversaries merge into the one interesting occasion. It is a matter of history that when New Zealand became a Dominion the people of this country were not wildly enthusiastic over the change. When Sir Joseph Ward, then Premier, returned from a visit to England on June 26, 1907, the day before the opening of Parliament, he intimated in his first public address in Wellington that New Zealanders would find in the Governor’s Speech next day “one item that would be a matter of very great pleasure to every political party in New Zealand.” This mysterious reference became popularly known as “Sir Joseph Ward’s surprise packet.” On the secret being disclosed, however, little enthusiasm was displayed by the people, and when a few weeks later in the House of Representatives a resolution requesting the British Government to make the change was moved the proposal was not allowed to go unchallenged. “What’s in a name?” was asked by several members, and the question reverberated through New Zealand. Some of the opponents in the course of the debate even accused Sir Joseph Ward of wishing for the title of Prime Minister in preference to that of Premier. There were, however, many ardent supporters of the change and the resolution was carried in the House of Representatives by 50 votes to 15 votes. Reading the Proclamation.

On the day on which the proclamation took effect there were celebrations throughout New Zealand, although, as was the case in Auckland, the day was not everywhere observed as a public holiday. This was due to the proximity of the date set apart for the celebration of Labour Day.The reading of the proclamation in Auckland took place at Victoria Park on the forenoon of Thursday, September 26. It was received with cheers by a large gathering of people. A reference to the files of the “Auckland Star” shows that among the outstanding personalities in the celebrations were the Mayor (the late Sir Arthur Myers), the Minister of Education (the Hon. Geo. Fowlds), the chairman of the Education Board (Mr. L. J. Bagnall), and the president of the National Defence League (Mr. W. B. Leyland).

Early in the forenoon the consuls representing Foreign Powers waited on the Mayor and tendered their hearty congratulations. A general parade of volunteers, cadets, and members of the Permanent Force took place, and following the reading of the Proclamation at Victoria Park, a presentation of colours tjo the troops was made by Sir John Logan Campbell. These were the first flags in Auckland to be consecrated to the Dominion of New Zealand. Prayers were read by Bishop Neligan, and speeches were made by the citizens already mentioned. Greetings from Overseas.

In other parts of the Dominion the Proclamation was read under somewhat similar circumstances. The celebrations in Wellington included a reception at Government House, which was held by the Governor (Lord Plunket) and Lady Plunket. A striking and effective feature of the evening’s demonstration were the electric light illuminations which blazed in various intricate designs on Parliamentary and other public buildings. Messages of congratulation were received from Britain, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Newfoundland and Fiji, all of whom expressed warmest wishes for the success of the new Dominion. In a special message to the people of New Zealand the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) expressed the hope that they would “preserve the purity of the race, secure equal opportunity to all, not permit the ring fence of privilege to any class, elevate our view of manual work so that the true dignity and ennobling influence of honest labour will be felt and shown in our contempt of idleness and extravagance.” Let us be justly proud of the pl ace we take to-day in the role of the King’s Dominions,” concluded the message, but let us make this an incentive to something higher still—a true Dominion in the head and heart of our own people.” Looking to the Future.

In a leading article which marked the special occasion, the “Auckland Star” observed: “To-day we may justly call our first national birthday; and those who fail to grasp all that the words imply may perhaps learn something of their true import from the solemn °and impressive message that our Premier has addressed to-day to the people of New Zealand as a birthday greeting.” “If only this land,” the artit ' tinned, “can become the home <

race kept free from alien taint, wk. all men enjoy equal opportunities, where labour is justly rewarded and held in honour, and where the aim of life is not wealth, but a wider enlightenment and humanity, guided and impelled by an ever higher manhood and womanhood, New Zealand, small in area, scantily peopled, secluded from the world’s main highways, will yet rank among the world’s great nations as a Power making for the infinite amelioration and uplifting of human life, and all that renders it worth living.” It is of interest to note that as far back as 1874 the coming of Dominion status was foretold in a dispatch sent to the British Government by the then Governor (Sir James Fergusson), the father of the present Governor-General. Our Eventful History.

How eventful the first 21 years of Dominion status were to prove not even the most imaginative of her citizens could foretell. Much of stirring interest could be written, but the outstanding events are vividly remembered by citizens of to»dav.

In 20 years the European population of New Zealand has increased from 888,578 to 1,344,384, the last census having been taken in 1926. In 1907 the value of the goods imported into New

Zealand was £17,302,861, while the value of the exports was £20,068,957. The last available totals for 1926 (not .fading year) were respectively St V nd i 4 * 5 ’? 75 ’ 575 ' The public debt of New Zealand in 1908 was £66,453,897, while last year the total was £245,850,889. 1 . When New Zealand became a Dominion the population of Auckland was anproximately 80,000. Such has been the expansion of our city that to-day the population of Greater Auckland is anproximately 200,000. H

Nationhood Established. In her first 21 years of life as a Dominion, New Zealand has come into her nationhood, and now holds a proud place in the councils of the Empire. I n the Great War she gave freely of her best to uphold the cause of liberty. A total of 100,000 troops left these shores for service in the Expeditionary Force of whom nearly 17,000 gave 'their lives, lhe cost was great not only in lives but also in the incurring of financial responsibility, but it is the hope of all that in a more peaceful era New Zealand land may continue to develop and prosper in accordance with the ideals and expectations of the pioneers and statesmen who laid the foundations of our Dominion.

HOW CHANGE WAS MADE.

SIR JOSEPH WARD’S Work

COLONIAL SECRETARY UNWILLING.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day.

“The twenty-first anniversary of Dominion Day marks a period of great advancement in every direction in New Zealand,” says Sir Joseph Ward. “I was responsible for the change of designation in this country’s title. I brought the matter up at an Imperial Conference and afterwards interviewed Lord Elgin, the then Secretary of State for the Colonies. I was surprised to find that he was not kindly disposed to the change, and though not actually hostile he expressed a preference for the old name of colony.

I gave him a list of all the countries that were included in the term colony, and pointed out other countries that had quite a number of colonies. He finally agreed to the change. It is a matter of history that for a time the change, speaking generally, was received with little or no enthusiasm.

Side by side with the change we passed from the old designation of M..H.R. to that of M.P. I venture the opinion to-day that there are few, if any, opponents of the change to be found. New Zealand is such a British country that its status among the oversea countries might not have been in any way adversely affected, but undoubtedly it stands very high and is well and favourably known throughout the world as a great Dominion.

“My thought for the day is: ‘Stand for the flag and maintain the •Empire.’ ”