FLAG-DAY APPEAL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 116, 2 June 1937, Page 6

FLAG-DAY APPEAL

Final Rally For Memorial Fund TO-DAY'S CEREMONY Flag Day, the final xally in ihe general appeal on behalf of the King George V Memorial Fund for the establishment of national health, camps for children, was launehed in Hastings this morning, though in other centres throughout .New Zealand it will be conducted to-morrow. There yvas a big attendance of the general public, together with a number of classes from» the Hastings Central and Mahora Schools, and tlie represenjbatives of most local bodies and organisations in the borough, at the clock tower this morning when the Mayor, Mr. G. A. Maddison, officially launehed the Flag Day campaign. Associated yvith hyn wero Mr, E. L. Cullen, M.P., and the Rev. V. B. Boggis, pre§ident of the Hastings Ministers' Association. Addressing the assemblage, Mr, Maddison reminded the people that this ceramony marked the closing stages of the local appeal. The procedure adopted of planting the TJnion Jacks *in the grass plot in front of the cioek tower, he pointed out, was a relica of the ceremony conducted annually in London by the xeigning sovereign, who planted a small wooden cross on a plot outside - "Westminster Abbey on Armistiee Bay. f I believe that Flag Day will appeal io you all and will be accepted with ehthusiasm and determination to give full and generous support to this very worthy mjemorIal," said his Worship. eT am proud indeed of the response of Hastings to the appeal, for. already over £700 has been donated. I feel that this proposed memorial depicts appropriately the character of King George V. and his serviee and interest an the well-being of the young people of the Empire, and I thank you one *nd all very sincerely for the support you have given me in this appeal." Mr. 'Cullen said he felt sure that the people of JN.ew Zealand would be gratiiied tp know of the magnificent response that had been made to the appeal made hy the Government for a perpetual memorial to the late Eing George. -His -late Majesty had always extended loving sympathy to the children of the Eropire, and King George TI., in this respect has emulated his father. The epeaker felt sure that i^ueen'Masy would also be comforted hy the knowledge that New Zealand was setting up a memorial in the form «f health camps for the children of the Dominion. . "I feel sure the Government is very grateful indeed: for the energy and eifort ptit into the local appeal by Mr. Maddison," said Mr. Cullen, "and also to those who have given so freely. On behalf of the Government I thank you all for the magnificent response." "This brief but important fimction should, I think, be pre-eminently a ceremony of" thanksgiving — a thanksgiving for all that Eing George V. was . to Ms people throughout the 25 years ©f his gracious reign," said Mr. Boggis. "Everything we know about him is a subjeet for thankfulness. He was a people's Eing, and he loved his subjects with a very intimate, strong and real affeetion;" 31r. Boggis -ppinted out that King George V. was a sailor king ; he had commanded ships, and in 1889, when as Prinee George he was engaged with the Fleet in manoeuvres off the Irish Coast, he saved a crippled .ship from drifting on the shore. "lri my judgment that episode symbolises all his work and serviee as'our King," said Mr. Boggis. "By setting up this memorial we shall be pea-petuating his memory by the ' saving and preserving of life ; by the bringiug of sunshine into the livcs of children j and by making their lives rieher arid more abundantly joyful. "The method of commemoration to-day is fraught with much significance," added Mr. Boggis. '-'The King was wont to place a cross on that lawn In London. We are placing here a flag, and the fiag of our Empire is a bundle of crosses The TJnion Jack suggests sacrifices as a principle of action. Our late King's life bore the marks of miselfishness and sacrificial serviee. So Well may ours be that too." The Mayor then planted his little fiag in ihe -grass plot and invited the Hatings Central and Mahora Schools to follow the lead. They were followed by members of ihe general public, and witliin a very sbort period the little plot was gaily decorated with fluttering little Union Jacks. Arrangements for bevies of young women to sell ihe flags throughout the day wero made, and this morning tbeso people entered «ntliusiastically upon their task. Some 2.000^ flags have ' been alloeated for sale in Hastings,' and hopes are entertained tliat they will be disposed of entireiy., TJpon his rcturn to the Ma.yoral ofliee Mr. Maddisou rcceivcd the i'ollowing telegrani I'rom, thc actiug-Prinie 'Mmister, thc Hon. P. Frascr: "I desirc to wisb you and those working with you every succes in your tlag-day appeal to-day in ald of the King George V. JS'atioual Memorial Fund. i feel aute that the citizens of Hastings will resppnd in a manner befitting their loval reverence for a great King and the nobJe memoral to him which is eonteroplated.