NATIONAL SONG

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 185, 2 May 1940, Page 8

NATIONAL SONG

Purchase Of “God Defend New Zealand”

ACTION BY GOVERNMENT

The purchase by the Government of the copyright and performing, reproduction, and similar rights of the words and music of Thomas Bracken’s song, “God Defend New Zealand,” was announced yesterday by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Barry. The copyright was held by Charles Begg and Co., Ltd., Dunedin. Mr. Parry said that a decision had been made to purchase the existing rights of “God Defend New Zealand,” which had come to be regarded as the national song of the people of the Dominion, in order to remove any restrictions which might be imposed on its use by the copyright and performing rights being in private ownership. It was the wish of the Government that every effort be made during centennial year, and in the future, to make the song which had become popular, heard at centennial functions, in the schools, and at concerts and similar gatherings, with the aim of giving it general recognition as the national song of the Dominion.

Records of the song, the Minister said, had been made for distribution throughout the country. The records would be played largely at patriotic functions and it was considered that no better introduction to gatherings of the kind could be conceived than a rendering of New Zealand’s own song which, in the richness of the sentiments it conveyed, would be echoed by every New Zealander. The song, as recorded, had been arranged for male voices by Mr. H. Gladstone Hill, Wellington, and sung by the Bohemian Male Voice Choir, with Miss Ena Rapley as soloist. The result was a truly striking example of what could be accomplished in that field and a tribute to the sponsors of the effort.

The Government appreciated the efforts of all concerned to complete the negotiations for Hie purchase of the rights of the song. It was at the suggestion of Mr. J. McDermott, Wellington, formerly Chief Engineer, Post and Telegraph Department, that decision was made to purchase the song rights. Mr. McDermott had been for many years a keen and enthusiastic advocate of the adoption and popularization of this song as a national one. The National Centennial Council, in a recommendation to the Government, expressed the view that as a fitting and appropriate gesture to mark the centennial year, the song should be adopted as the Dominion’s national song.