THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1923. ANZAC DAY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4555, 24 April 1923, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1923. ANZAC DAY.

+ — Thu thoughts of the people of the Dominion are just now instinctively revei ted to what took place eight years ago on-the rugged and forbidding coasts of Gallipoli. It was here that the valiant men of New Zealand < nd Australia performed a feat which thril’ed the whole world. They were prompt in their response to the call of Empire ; they flew to arms at the first, call of the clarion, and thong? as yet untried in war., they were assigned, and accomplished, an impossible task. When they went out from us on the Great Adventure, there were many who wondered how they would acquit themselves, and some there were who entertained secret misgivings. For our lads had been nutured in years of peace, and they had been reared amidst scenes far removed from martial activity. There were those who prophesied that environment had changed our national characteristics, and sapped our racial vigour. Gallippli proved these prophets false. It demonstrated that Britain’s sons were Britons still; that heredity had prevailed over environment; that the qualities which had enabled our forbears to build and maintain our proud Empire were present in our sons. April 25, 1915, will always shine in letters of gold upon New Zealand’s calendar. But while Anzac Day brings prominently before our minds the Great Landing, it must not be forgotten that in honouring that band of heroes we also honour those who followed after. The men of Anzac were superb in valour, but they were only a sample. Subsequent events proved that the bulk were their equal, and thus while we acclaim the vanguard we recognise that they are but representative of the main body. In paying tribute to the meji who fought at Anzac we remember those also who in Egypt, Palestine, France, Salonika, Belgium, Mesopotamia, on the high seas, and other theatres of war,, acquitted themselves with equal courage. The Government and Parliament of the Dominion have unquestionably done th? right thing in making Anzac Day a sacred day—a day when, compelled to put aside the ordinary vocation and the customary pleasures of life we may unite in paying tribute to the memory of those who died and suffeted it. order that we might live.