THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “ Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1944. ANZAC DAY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32423, 26 April 1944, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “ Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1944. ANZAC DAY

What was in the minds of thousands of people throughout New Zealand as they attended Anzac Day ceremonies yesterday? For some it was a day of mourning for those who fell on that day 29 years ago when New Zealand and Australian soldiers achieved an almost impossible task. To others it was a celebration of a military feat. To many, possibly the majority, there was a vague sense of a duty and a tribue due to someone. But there is a deeper significance than any of these which Mr B. J. Jacobs, president of the Returned Services Association, has expressed eloquently in his Anzac Day message. “As I understand it,” he said, “the spirit of Anzac is the spirit of co-operation, of service and selfsacrifice in the interests of one’s country and fellow-men. Are we measuring up to this standard in the fifth year of the second world war?”

Mr Jacobs appealed to all people to dedicate themselves to the resolve that they will revive the spirit of Anzac by co-opera-tion with the leaders of the country and by personally making voluntary efforts and sacrifices to shorten the war. Probably comparatively few people have looked upon Anzac Day in this light. Yet the very name is a symbol of the co-operation between the men of Australia and New Zealand which made possible the landing on the shores of Gallipoli. Mr Jacobs has emphasised the most logical meaning of the ceremony and the day of meditation. Especially in the minds of the younger people, the term “holiday” has robbed Anzac Day of much of its original import. “Holiday” is a misnomer, that should be avoided in this connection if the day is to. be passed on to future generations with its full significance preserved. Rather than allow it to become just another holiday it would be far better to erase it from the calendar. It is no tribute to the men of Anzac to make merry and forget all responsibility on this of all days. Anzac is not a useless or meaningless ceremony, and the people of New Zealand would do well to ponder the fact. Those who experienced the first Anzac Day will never forget.