The Press Saturday, June 3, 1922. The King's Birthday.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17471, 3 June 1922, Page 8

The Press Saturday, June 3, 1922. The King's Birthday.

If the celebration of Empire Day is falling into disuse in New Zealand, it is only because increasing regard is being given to the birthday of his Majesty the King. In honour of that anniversary the Dominion keeps holiday to-day. The change is in the right direction. Empire Day carried on, not only the celebration of the Queen's Birthday, a date which was honoured in every part of the Empire, but also the development of the Empire it-self, -which took place to 6uch a greai extent during Queen Victoria's reign. To-day we celebrate the birthday of the monarch who personifies in the minds of all loyal citizens the Empire of which he is the titular head. And not only as the titular head, but as the ruier who is recognised ns possessing a warm and personal interest in the welfare of all the countries, widespread over the world, over which lie reigns. The peoples of the Empire, with whom the King has always enjoyed genuine popularity, learned during the war to entertain for him far deeper feelings than mere appreciation. They saw him playing his part just as they would have

wished him to do, helping, by personal sacrifice and steady work, to set such an example as could well be followed by nil. His active sympathy with the. iaaldiere, both those on service and those in hospital, won all hearts, and the end of the war saw respect and affection for the monarchy more firmly implanted in British hearts than ever before. To the high esteem in which, the Royal Family is held, the Prince of Wales has contributed in no small degree, and the Throne stands the more securely in the confidence of all British peoples because of their conviction that its highest traditions will be safe in the hands of the Prince when he comes to occupy it.