EMPIRE DAY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2781, 27 May 1916, Page 5

EMPIRE DAY

NEXT WEEK'S CELEBRATIONS. There should be some -inspirtiug moments in connection with the Empire Day ceiebrdtioiis in Wellington next week. The decision of the (iovernment that the day should be observed tnis year oil the King's Birthday (June 3), has given the members of tne Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association, which is at the Imcli of the All for Empire movement, a capital opportunity of attesting their loyalty and devotion to the cause of Empire, of which they have not been slow to take advantage, and fchej liave a very considerable programme in hand next week, in which they are seeking the support and co-operation of the geneial public. The travellers are desirous of impressing the great lessons of the war upon the public mind; they also wish to sound a warning note, and to be prepared for the coming trade war, which most commercial men are agreed iiiyst follow the present sanguinary strife in Europe, so that we may be eady for any emergency. They are beginning the week with an appeal to tho shopkeepers of Wellington to exhibit only goods made within tho Empire in their windows,-and they nro following this up by sendng speakers into thi schools on Friday, which, at (heir request, and with the cooperation of the Headmasters' Association and the Wellington Board of Education, is being given up to lessons of a patriotic character. Then, on the King's Birthday, the boys and girls of the Fifth and Sixth Standards, with their teachers, are to attend a patriotic gathering at the Town Hall, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when tableaux vivants, with patriotic songs and mnsio, will be a feature of the afternoon's entertainment, and nddresse.s will also be delivered by the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., and the Hon. Dr. M'Nab. The tableaux will be tinder the direction of Mrs. James Hannan. At nitrht there will be a mass meeting of citizens in the Wellington Town Hall, when ait Attractive programme will be. provided, and addresses will be delivered by the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward. The patriotic tableaux that will be a feature of the afternoon's business will be repeated at this meeting, suid patriotic resolutions will bo placed before the meeting for eiidorseemnt by the citizens, other resolut'nns following in recard to tho All for Empire League.. Mayor will preside over both gatherings.