NATIONAL SONG

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 138, 8 December 1938, Page 11

NATIONAL SONG

.SELECTION MADE

"GOD BEFEND NEW ZmUMB"

By a -unanimous vote the National Centennial Council decided today to recommend -to the -Government the adoption of Thomas Bracken's. "God Defend :New Zealand" as the .Dominion's national song. The was also unanimous in the opinion that, the, national sang should be sung after the' National Anthem, "God Save tftiej King." • ■ "" '■ i The: suggesiaQß. that "GoS Ttefendj Iffew Zealand" siiould be recommended as the naliDnal sonyg was, put forward "by. the Trßa£r-"Seca:etary ior the Department of Internal Affairs CMr. J. W. : Heenah). The song had been published in a volume by Bracken entitled "Musings in Maoriland,", at the time of New Zealand's golden jubilee in 1890, Mr. Heeaan said, and for over fi£tiy years it 3aad won approval in New Zealand and abroad. It was .generally accepted by .New Zealanders as New Zealand's own song, and the lEmpire Games team that -visited Sydney had sung it there. Be moved that the council should -recommend the Government to adopt the song «as the national song to be sung after -the National, Anthem. " ..'• - :

King."

The Minister of itnternal Affairs (the Han. W,. E. Racry) said that he agneed ;that JN&w Zealand should have a recognised .national sojag. New Zealanders should be encourfliged to sing about their country. :

The Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata,, M.P., suggested /that the national radio stations shoulti. be asked to broadcast the song and invite .comments irom listeners.

Mr. A. H. Allen (Mayor of Dunedin) said he was-an favour of the resolution; but he did not think -expressions of public opinion -should be.siskfid fox. The song was generally accepted jby: New Zeala&ders, tout M ictasnaaents were asked Star €clay was atatast seertain to ; .result. The -council should approve Itoe, song, but at mast take .second place to ■Sic National Anthem.

Mr. R. M. Macfarlane (Mayor of Christchurch) saM tie had a decided liking €or both the ■song and the -tune.

Mr. Heenan's motion iwas unanimously approved.