THE CITY’S TRIBUTE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 125, 26 April 1940, Page 9

THE CITY’S TRIBUTE.

IMPRESSIVE COMMEMORATION. LARGE CROWD ATTENDS. Thousands of people in Palmerston North will remember the first Anznc Day, yesterday, of the present war, for the largest crowd which lined the streets anti the largest congregation at the Divine service for a period of years, for a most impressive parade of < returned soldiers, men on active service and Territorial units, and a scene at the Showgrounds, where the service was held, which will linger in the memory. Sunshine made the activities all the more pleasant and tile many khaki uniforms and the music of three bands were outstanding features of the commemoration of Anznc heroism. Organised by the Palmerston North branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, under the presidency of Air B. J. Jacobs, the parade was considerably enhanced by the presence of the Maori Battalion, under the leadership of Lieutenant-Colonel G. Dittmer. There were also with the returned soldiers of the lust war a group of South African War veterans, with also several from the Maori Wars. The Alanawatu Mounted Rifles paraded under Major B. A. Norman, the Wellington West Coast Regiment under Lieutenant J. Coley, the Bth Field Battery under Captain M. Scott, the Red Cross unit under Airs W. H. Richardson, the commandant, B Company of the Second Field Ambulance under Lieuten-ant-Quartermaster G. ft. Olliver, and the Technical High School cadets under Air 0. S. Steverson. Alajor Kerr was in charge of the parade. The Garrison Band, City Band and Pipe Band provided the music for the marching. Speaking on “Courage,” at the service in the Showgrounds, Rev. Gardner Miller, of Christchurch, said lie had been amazed at tile calm reception of the present war hy the British populace. Even when the Prime Minister, Air Neville Chamberlain (whom the speaker knew personally) was seeing Hitler, the arch lunatic of Europe, the speaker iiad been thunderstruck to see the way the East Londoners wore taking the air raid precautions, and the Cockneys were even joking than one Cockney was good for a dozen Germans. After Air Chamberlain 'had come back from Germany, when > he was reporting to the House of Commons, the speaker had gone to AYestminster Abbey, which was kept open i continuously so that the people of the ! Empire might kneel and offer their prayers at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. In ail unforgettable experience he had seen a stream of people of all classes of society pray at the tomb. All over the world there were prayers from millions that war might ! not' lie. He had seen the Queen | Alotlier leave the House of Commons | with a tear-stained face, had heard the people cheer Air Chamberlain for bringing back what appeared to lie a message of truth —that there would ho no war—but Hitler had shown he preferred fiction to truth. IN THE NAME OF DECENCY.

Since then countries had been in# vaded successively by the forces of Nazism. There must come a time when, apart altogether from Parliaments and armed forces, the principles of wrong must be put down in the name of decency and in the name of God, Air Miller added. Hitler meant to break down and destroy the basis of freedom — free speech, the right to criticise, the right to publish and the light to assemble. One might siit that wo were now attempting to bring back to the ravaged nations the freedoms for which we stood.

Fear was an ingredient of courage,

the speaker proceeded. Courage was fear controlled. Fear was a protection, but should not be allowed to over-ride one. To-day we should take _ courage in this fight against principles of Nazism, not against the German nation, the men and women and children which formed it. This criminal lunatic at large in the world to-dav had been responsible for the growth of Nazism. Concluding, the speaker told of a Press correspondent who, while on a destroyer, feared a' collision with another ship. He spoke to a sailor wljo merely said: “There’s a man on the bridge who louks after that,” and returned to his work. AVe should remember now that there is a Divine “Alan on the bridge,” we should not let fear over-ride us, and should trust in Him. An unusual tribute on such an occasion to the speaker was paid when the gathering applauded him at the close of his address. The hymns sung (led by the Garrison Band) were “All People That on Earth do Dwell,” “.Sun of ALv Soul,” “Lend Kindly Light” and “0 God Our Help,” the service concluding with the National Anthem. Air Aliller conducted the prayer of invocation and the prayer of commemoration and intercession. A Scripture reading was given by Captain K. T. Harawira, chaplain of the Maori Battalion. The Last Post and Reveille were sounded on the bugle by Lieutenant E. T. AlcKain. Among those who attended were the Alavor (Mr A. E. Alansford), Air J. Hudgens, A1.P.,.. and Air J. A. Nash (chairman of the Hospital Board). The whole parade marched through the Square past the AYar Alemorial (where members of “N” Squadron of the Legion of Frontiersmen stood with reversed arms) prior to the service. The number of wreaths at the memorial was greater than usual, and among them were expressions from the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the 28th (Alaori) Battalion, the Alavor, Councillors and Citizens of Palmerston North, the Scottish Society and Pipe Band, the Legion of Frontiersmen, the Red Cross Society, the Alanawatu branch of the Registered Nurses’ Association and Patriotic Society, while all the local schools were represented, including Longburn and Allison, anil several Boy Scout troops'. Throughout the day the war memorial was visited by large numbers of people.