ANZAC DAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2163, 14 August 1920, Page 4

ANZAC DAY.

BILL READ A SECOND TIME,

NOTABLE SCENE IN PARLIAMENT.

Wav days were reculled in (he House of Representatives on Wednesday evening'', when, in an atmosphere of patriotic fervour, Mr G. Milehell moved I lit 1 second reading of his Anzac I>;iy Bill, proposing lo set aside An/.ae Day ;is a day ol memory for the men who fell during the war. Enthusiastic support was given to (he measure by the few members who spoke, ineluding (he Prime Minister, and when the second reading was carried the House rose and sang the National Anthem, immediately afterwards adjourning. Mr Milehell, in moving the second reading, said that the desire of returned soldiers was (o have Anzac Day selected, because that was the anniversary of the New Zealanders' active entry into the war. it was impossible to look back upon the war without recalling the loss of many tine fellows, and the misery and the destruction, but at the same time with pride and gratification til lh<‘ fitel that the sacrifice had m'd been in vain. He spoke of the impossibility at this near date to realise the historic limes through which we had passed, and all that the war and victory meant to the nation. He referred lo the magnificent achievement of the British arms and the nation’s successful bearing of the •heavy burden plain'd upon if. He paid an enthusiastic tribute to the British lighting men who had come to Gallipoli from all quarters ol the world, and had shown qualities which had ultimately brought victory. History had at no lime produced records of greater deeds of heroism than were told of British soldier.- during the war. The country must not forget, also, her magnificent women who had gone out in hundreds to be near the men who fought, ami to lend them when they were wounded or smk —women who knew no tear, and no ” fatigue. (Hear, hear.) New Zealanders had at all limes proved themselves worthy of the country which had produced them.

“We soldiers ask you," continued the member, addressing the House, “to give ns this day as a day dedicated to the memory of our comrades. We ask that it may he kept as Sunday is kept, not for sports or for race-meetings, hut in a manner in which we can recall that our (lead comrades gave their lives for others. Remember that upon the sacrifice of these men rests the security of the Empire. Their -merilice allowed you lo remain at home in comfort in this country, protected by your wealth, ami trade, and commerce, ami that it permits you lo sit in this House and exercise control and government. Those men thought not to make the few rich, hut all men free. They thought to make our country noble, and our people, perhaps, just a lit He less selfish. We ask this day for the seventeen thousand men of this country whose graves are scattered over (‘very hatlleliehi in the late war. and whose little wooden crosses stand as a silent testimony of the sacrifice they made. The day will also he a memorial to those parents who gave up these men to the nation. May the memory of these men make us a little more considerate and a little mere thoughtful in our actions and (■undue! towards the living." Mr Milehell moved the second reading.

Members accorded Mr Mitchell the unusiial compliment of applaudmu' him when ho resumed hi* scul, The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. \V. F. Massey) said that it pave him great pleasure to supjtorl: the second reading. For some years past, even Indore the Armistice, he had had a strong feeling that a day should he set apart to commemorate the services of tin 1 men and women ol' the country, generally, in the war. lie was pleased that Anx.ac Day had been selected by the returned soldiers, the day on which (hey celebrated the anniversary of the landing' on Gallipoli, a day whim deeds were done which had seldom been equalled, and never (Xeelled. in any of '.he ureal wars of the world. (Applause.) In future, on this day men would he able to recite not only the deeds ol' New Zealanders on Gallipoli, but of all the great battles of the war. He hoped (hat in future it would l-e a holy day rather than a holiday, and that it would he made impossible to hold sports and race meetings, as one member had said — not that he was against such things. He Hoped it would also he a day of inward rejoicing that the safety of the Fmpire for which the men had fought had been won—rejoicing for the spirit with which I he men were inspired during the dark days—for the. fact that the war had left us a free people, and ft free Empire; and a day of mourning for the gallant dead, for the hundreds of thousands of British soldiers who had fought for their country and never returned, “Their bodies rest in peace, but their names will live for ever." The deeds they did would never he forgotten. Mr .Massey recited Shakespeare’s words in the stirring address delivered hy Henry V. to his troops before the battle of Agincuurt, which words, said Mr Massey, applied to Gallipoli. It was not necessary for him to speak further. He hoped the setting aside of the day would help future generations to remember the past, the great privileges that had been won for them, and their duty to the dead to help keep this great Empire of ours still an Empire, and to hand it on greater. nobler, and richer in traditions than it had over been in the wonderful past. (Applause.) In an impressive speech. Mr L. M.

Isitt said he had been more than delighted til the tone adopted by Mr Mitchell in introducing the Bill, and with the speech of the Prime Minister. He desired to see the day free of any kind of sport, and with all the shops and hotels closed. It should be a day not of mourning, but of pride and thankfulness that our men and our country hud not been found wanting. Every man and woman who .could should be free to attend the services on that day to testify to (lie honour in which they held the great dead, and the men who had. fought, the nurses who had given such noble services, and the mothers who had given the child of their travail and love for the defence of their Empire. It was the day on which the Dominion had come into if,- majority. K would he a crime for (hose who came after us if we missed the opportunity of instilling in our youth the same spirit with which the men we commemorated were inspire I. The Stale schools should take part in the ceremony on that day to receive the inspiration, “it is right," concluded Mr Isitt, “that this Bill should lie brought forward by one who has fought and suffered for his country." He believed that in the future this day would he grealer in the national life than Independence Day in America. (Hear, hear.)