EMPIRE DAY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1932, Page 6

EMPIRE DAY

SYDNEY CELEBRATION

EMFIRE PRODUCTS APPEAL,

(Australian Press Association.)

SYDNEY, May 24

The Empire Day celebration in -Sydnew to-day was marked by an impressive ceremony in Martin Place, in the vicinity of the Cenotaph. Enthusiasm commenced when the State Governor, Sir Philip Game, appeared. As he mounted the platform, cheer upon cheer burst from the ten thousand people present, only to be renewed in increasing volume when he began to speak. A resolution pledging th« citizens to eat; drink, wear and use Australian and, products was carried with enthusiasm. Prominent citizens, as well as Minis-ters-of the Crown and of religion and the • Judiciary, addressed the gathe l ing. There -was a - Police Band present, which led the singing. Mr Schmitt, the New Zealand Government Commissioner was among those present. The members of the visiting English Rugby League team placed a wreath on the Cenotaph, as also did the officers of, the visiting Japanese Training Squadron. .

N.Z. SOCIETY’S LUNCHEON

-HIGH COMMISSIONER’S SPEECH

(Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, May 24. ■Sir Thomas Wilford, presiding at the New Zealand Society’s luncheon at the Savoy, -recalled that it was the jubilee Q.f the. .'frozen meat trade. The first ca'rgOLcOf' mutton and lamb arrived by the khip Dunedin on May 24th; -1882. New Zealand was. now supplying Britain with' ten million sheep and lambs yearly. Hon. Runeiman raid Britain was prepared to encourage trade with any country in the world it given a c-hanco, but because the Dominions are giving us a greater chance than others, we are going to Ottawa, determined to dovetail our interests in a spirit of mutual helpfulness. General Birdwood paid a tribute to New Zealand’s magnificent troops at the war. He did not wish to meet better comrades, fighters or finer gentlemen. The guests included Ear! and Qoimte«s of Liverpool, Countess Jellicoo, Sii James Mills, Sir Gordon Campbell and Mr .Malcolm MacDonald.

PRIME MASTER'S MESSAGE. WELLINGTON, May 23

Following is the Empire Day message of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes; “At a time when closer co-opera-tion in the ordering of the' economic life _Qt the British Commonwealth is recognised as being of the greatest importance,V't-hevobseryame of Empire Day must have a special .significance, ’ltTis/km' *tSat* fM 1 pauM#* to give heed to, tlie '-years ol toil, fo.ivsiglht and.,initiative that have, been combined in building the Empire, a' we of our generation know it. “If it is not to b e regarded as an empty symbol, the day must mark a definite occasion. It must be used, tor one thmg,C to Cons tract 7 Etrtpir ; e : values '%hgW--.0 ii-fet/:hi ust A-ser.ve 1 ■as 7,;; mile stone' at which we should strive to reach a truer understanding of Empire history, and adjust ever-changing conditions to the new order of things..

“To-day the Nations of the Empire Commonwealth are on the threshold ot wiliat many hope will be a new era. The Empire Economic Conference, to be held at Ottawa, may open the way for a revival of 'lagging trade and a period of much closer commercial relationship between the nations of the Commonwealth. For the conference to succeed, the peoples of the Empire must show a will to work for the common good, and a determination to show that spirit of co-operation which will be implied in the letter of any agreement that might be reached in Canada. Thus, on this day, w e must be prepared' to take, stock of Empire values. Overseas trade,-which is the life-blood of tills Dominion, cannot be built np indefinitely by any one unit ot the Empire', independent of th e rest. Our interests are'too closely knit to allow •complete singleness of purpose' at a time-wheii . modern life is sweeping i&Myl the fold insularity; and replacing it 'with a world wherein tlie repercussions of an event in London may he felt very definitely in the furthest outpost of the Empire. “The day bears special interest for ns during this critical time of our history, and this interest cannot b e overlooked, in view of the importance that is being attached to the events to take place during the corning • months.”