The Dominion. TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1916. ANZAC DAY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2725, 21 March 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1916. ANZAC DAY

Better consideration ( was surely lue to the commemoration of Anzac Day than can have been given it at he hasty conference between the ?rime Minister and the Mayors of Wellington, Onslow, and Karori on Saturday! The confercnce, we are ;old, was hurriedly arranged, as Mr. Massey was leaving for the 101' th, and several gentlemen whom was intended should accompany ;he deputation were unable to attend. Admitting freely that the Prime Minister is a busy and buriened man at the present time, we sould wish that this question of commemorating Anzac Day had been handled m a different fashion. Mr. Massey could 'easily have delegated his part in the matter to one of his colleagues, and in all likelihood a more leisurely consideration and discussion would have resulted in a decision to more adequately honour the day of which New Zealanders have so much reason to be proud, and in which they should find so much inspiration, than now seems likely. As it is, Jhe Government, instead of giving a national lead in the matter, seems to have been content to endorse the proposals raised locally. A half-holi-day is to be proclaimed on Anzac Day, combined religious services are to be held in the Town Hall, and other halls in the day : time, and patriotic meetings at night. Presumably the half-holiday will'be general throughout the country, and no doubt some such programme as is contemplated in Wellington will bo adopted in other centres of population. The programme is suitable enough as far as it gocß, but it does not go far enough. This seems to be a case in which the characteristically British distaste for anything that savours of ceremonial has carried the day, but there is a time for all things, and Anzac Day certainly seems to deserve a somewhat more elaborate celebration than it is likely to get this year. It is an occasion on which the freest possible scope might justly have been given for the expression of that national sentiment, which is far • removed from sentimentality, and is to be reckoned upon as a powerful driving force in war and other great affairs of life. Anzac Day_ is made memorable by military achievement, and it should have been an occasion for the assemblage and parade of troops as well as for religious observances. It is true,_ of course, that the essential, business of the

is the prabtical prosecution of the \var—the training of troops and the industrial activities which

are justly regarded as equally important. Probably such a commemoration as we suggest would have entailed setting aside a whole day instead of a half-holiday, but the additional'intcrferonce involved in the working activities of the community would not have been great. No risk should be run of any failure to adequately appreciate the 'greatness of the 'day and its significance. Disregarding other things, the probable effect on recruiting alone of a truly national commemoration of Anzac

Day would amply warrant its being undertaken. Nothing could have been better and more appropriate than that the comtnemoration should have been .made the'occasion of a powerful and insistent recruiting appeal sounded from North Cape to th 2 Bluff. . '