GREEK INDEPENDENCE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 156, 28 March 1939, Page 7

GREEK INDEPENDENCE

Anniversary Celebration In Wellington FREEDOM UNDER BRITISH FLAG RECOGNIZED The declaration of Greek independence on March 25, 1821, was commemorated by the Greek community in Wellington on Sunday night, a feature of the celebrations being recitations and folk dancing performed by children dressed in national costumes. The pupils of Miss L. Ampatzi, these children have made rapid progress in mastering the Greek language during the past 15 months. Miss Ampatzi has conducted a Greek school for two hours each day, which the children have attended in addition to their ordinary schooling. The celebrations were held under the auspices of the Pan-Hellenic Association of Wellington, in the Greek Club, Marion Street. Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, Consul-General for Greece in New Zealand, presided, and among those present were the Minister of Education, Mr. Fraser, and Mrs. Fraser, the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in New Zealand, Sir Harry Batterbee, and Lady Batterbee, the Consul for Belgium, Mr. A. Nihotte, and Madame Nihotte, the Vice-Consul for the Netherlands, Mr. M. F. Vigeveno, and Mrs. Vigeveno, a representative of the Italian Consulate, Mr. M. F. Luckie, in the absence of the Mayor, Mrs. Garland, the Rev. D, C. Bales, Mrs. F. Hay, Mrs. Knox Gilmer, Dr. C. G. F, Morice and Miss Morice, and Mr. and Mrs. F. Roffe. Mr. Seddon spoke of what Independence Day meant to the Greek nation. The celebration marked the overthrow of Turkish domination, which suppressed the Greeks for nearly four centuries.

Struggle For Independence, Mr. S. Garland, Vice-Consul for Greece, traced the struggle for independence from the ruthless oppressors of Greece, and referred to the centuries of suffering his countrymen had endured. Inspired by the success of the French Revolution, the Greeks secretly armed themselvdk, and with help from England and France began their tight in 1821. r The Pan-Hellenic Association, said Mr. Garland, wanted the children to know everything about the country of their origin, and to realize what their forefathers had suffered for the sake of liberty. They also wanted them to appreciate the freedom given by the British flag, and to realize that that freedom meant that they could worship God in their own way and that they could be taught the Greek language and he instructed in the ideals of their forefathers. Mr. Fraser emphasized what the world owed to Greek culture, and referrer] to its indebtedness to the Greeks for what they bestowed on civilization in the way of sculpture, art, literature, athletics, and medicine. Tie also spoke with appreciation of the sense of citizenship which the Greeks in New Zealand evinced. Sir Harry Batterbee expressed bis pleasure in meeting so many Greek subjects, and his delight in hearing Greek songs and recitations rendered by the Greek children.