EMPIRE DAY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 205, 25 May 1921, Page 6

EMPIRE DAY

DECLARATIONS OF LOYALTY GATHERING OF COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS SPEECHES BY MINISTERS Members of the Commercial Travellers’ Club met in the lunch hour yesterday to tommemorate Empire Day, and pass a loyal resolution: They had as their guests the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir Francis Bell), the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Parr), and the Leader of the Liberal Party (Mr. T. M. Wilford). Tho gathering was large and enthusiastic. The president of the club, Mr. R. M. Brewer, moved the following motion: That this meeting expresses its sincere devotion nnd loyal attachment ■ lo His Majesty’s Throne and person, and its fervent hope that His Majesty may be long spared to reign over a united Empire, and to uphold the supremacy of the British flag, and those high ideals of liberty, truth, and justice for which it stands, and which are the basic prinjiples of all British Governments. Mr. F. W. Manton seconded the motion, and said that the times called for expressions of loyally. in view of the presence of disaffected groups in the community. The commercial travellers were absolutely loyal. An Inspiring Ideal.

Sir Francis Bell said that his first thought was regret that Mr. Massey, who, more than any other New Zealander, stood for the sentiments expressed in the resolution, was not present. It was lifficult to measure how much the country owed Mr. Massey for his leadership during the past nine years. Two thousand years ago, to be a Roman citizen was the proudest of boasts. There had been no such Empire since till the establishment of the British —the English. Scotch, and Irish—from end to end of the globe. The resolution fittingly expressed their pride in being subjects of tho same King and heirs of the same traditions. It wns not only on inspiring ideal they held; the existence of the Empire was the' material protection of every subject of the King. Though it ras necessary at times like these to make such a declaration, still they who had come through lhe war knew (tow solid was the determination of the people of New Zealand to be, and remain. part of the Empire, and enjoy its constitution. "It matters not so much with us as with other countries that words are being spoken and things arc being written in our midst challenging

our allegiance and advocating the overthrow of our institutions,” said Sir Francis Bell. "It matters not so much with us. because we have so recent a memory of how the name of our country has teen upheld by the courage and conduct of the men we sent as our missionaries. I, for one, am not afraid when I remember the men who have come back and the mon who have died for us. I am not afraid because the

men who have come back are the leaven of our population, and they have learned the lesson of discipline and loyally. I

speak not merely for myself, but for tbe Government of the country, and I think I speak for manv who are content to bo represented by tho. Government, when I

say that right and proper is it that we should declare, as this resolution declares. the determination ihat you are expressing to-day. There is less danger in this country than in any other country I know of. of any determination of the principle I began by stating, that we are the suhiects of tho one King ano’ the heirs to the same tradition.” (Applause.) Propagandists of Empire.

Mr. Wilford said that the action oj

the association in calling, the meeting and moving the resolution was in perfect accord with tho actions and policy of the organisation during the war. The commercial travellers had made themselves propagandists of Empire in this country. Mr. Wilford mentioned that Empire Day had been overlooked by the newspapers. He thought that 'May 24 should be regarded as the day on which every New Zealander' would say. "Many happy returns of the day, Mother Britannia!" Men who remem-' bered the events of the war could not think parochially; they had to think Imperially They did not forget that in many parte of the world little white erodes marked the resting-places of New Zealand boys who had made their sacrifice for the .nation. He was proud, as leader of Hie Majesty’s Opposition in the Dominion, to stand on the same platform with the Acting-Prime Minister and declare that th? party he represented was loyal to King and Empire. (Applause.) Literals and Reformers had their differences, hut on the question of Empire there was no difference. Loyalty to tho Empire came before party politics. If tho occasion arose they would be found co-operating again for the upholding of tbe greatest, freest, and noblest Empire the world had ever seen. That was tho spirit that ought to be fostered in New- Zealand. Differences of opinion about local and domestic affairs were necessary and desirable. Without such’differences there couli| not be good government or sound opinion. But there need be no differences on the national and Imperial issues. Mr. Wilford added that the result of the war could not yet be foretold confidently, ’['he nations were experiencing the aftermath of war, and only Time could tell the outcome. There wns m-ajJi to be remembered and much to be forgotten. The people who did not feel the differences that the war had made and were not ready to apply its lessons were not going’ to be of any use as citizens. (Applause.) Disintegrating Forces.

The Hon. C. J. Parr commended the purpose of the gathering. He said that disintegrating forces were nt work in different parts of the Empire. These forces were in New Zealand. "Tn this country; among your children, there are Sunday schools where they do not teach the little ones to worship the God of our fathers, but where thinly-disguised Itisloyalty is inculcated,” said tho Minister. "It is because I think something should be done to counter these tendencies that I thought it my duty*ns Minister of Education to ask that in every school in New Zealand the true Gospel shall be taught the children. 1 hone that within a few days we will so order things throughout New Zealand that in every school tho work of the day will not be completed, unless the Fing has been saluted and the National Anthem sung. (Applause.) Give me the child and the notion is safe! We old fellows have lost our dash and done our day. but the children are to own this land, and we must see to it that they grow up loyal to the Fing, to the country, and to the Empire.” Mr. Parr referred to the bonds of blood and Janguage holding the peoples nf the Empire together and to tho ideals of freedom, justice, and generosity that were common to tho British nations, and were shared by the people of the United States. Another bond of Empire, not always remembered, was love of the sea. The British Empire had been created by sea-power. and its people had held naval supremacy because they had the spray of the sea in their nostrils. He believed that if the British Navy shrank to second place, the death-knell of tho Empire would Ik l sounded. It was well, therefore, that the statesmen of Britain and of the Dominions should got to'ietlier. ns they would be doing in London next week, for the discussion of the vital question of tho naval defence of the Empire. The storm-centre had shifted to the Pacific, and the people of the Empire hnd to see to it that its defences in that part of the world were adequate.

The menace of Germany had gone and the North Sea was safe. But there were other dangers, and sound policy demanded that there should be in the Pacific a British fleet commensurate with the magnitude of the interests that required protection. Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand would have to contribute

to the support of that fleet, which' be believed should be based in Singapore in accordance with the scheme recommended by Lord Jejlicoe in his report on the naval defence, of the Empire. The motion was carried by acclamation. and was followed by hearty cheers for the Empire. A hearty vote of thanks to the speakers was moved by Mr. S. Jacobs, who assured tho Ministers that the members of flic association eubepibed to the principles they had laid down. He referred to the iinportance of a proper understanding '’<4ween the two great Englishspeaking races of (he world. The motion was carried by acclamation. The gathering closed with ringing cheers for King and country and. the singing of the National Anthem. CELEBRATIONS TN SYDNEY. (Rec. May 24, 9.10 p.m.) Sydney, May 24. Empire Day was celebrated by patriotic functions at th© schools and manypublic gatherings, addressed by members I of Cabinet and leading citizens. Although it was not a holiday, business ' places and public buildings in the city J were decorated with bunting.—Press ( Assn.