DOMINION DAY

Nelson Evening Mail, 25 September 1916, Page 4

DOMINION DAY

GATHERING OF SCHOOL CHTT/DBEOSr'. SALUTING THE FLAG. The schooil children assembled as usual ibis morning, for the purpose of saluting the Flag and 'hearing addresses in commemoration of Dominion Day. At ea-ili of the City schools the Flag was hoisted'., and the children addressed, either by a visitor or members of the teaching staff. BOYS* CENTRAL. At the Boys' Central the speaker was the Rev. J. H. MacKenzie, Chairman of the Town Schools Comonittee. Mr W. Lock, a member of the Education Board, was also present. The Rev. Mr MacKenzie said that monuments were erected, as in the case, for instance,, of, Mr Seddctn, in memory of a great man| or a day was set apart in (memory of 'Somie great day—Trafalgar Day, for instance. In 'New Zealand we set apart a dtay and called it Dominion. Day. When he came to New Zealand 36 years ago. it %as\- : a colony, and' he was Friday afternoon," and the children would be pleased tQsday to 'be called a colonist. New Zealand) (might have continued l ior some time longer as a colony. However, statesmen desired a change, and instead of a colony we were now a dominion. W'e ikiept the day 4: as a holiday, but it had rather been spoilt for the children in having to. come to school. It would have ibeen wiser"" if the teachers could) have given addresses in the schools on Friday afternoon ; and the children .would than have had a thoroughgoing holiday. The speaker went on to refer to the advantages enjoyed dn living in New Zealand, one of the best countries in- the world. There was bread and to spare. Every family had l three, meals a day and something oyer for next unorning. In some countries all people did) not have three meals a day, and' 'New Zealand had been sendling money and/ clothing to help *he poor in Britain and! Belgium. InNew Zealand), too, there was plenty of education —free. -.livery "boy had. the chance to make the most of himself — full liberty and an open door to imake . the .most of the brains, ability, and' skill •he possessed. Dominion 'Day should also remind them of their duties. • It was laid i upon them to think of and help other , countries not so well off as themselves. [Lately Great Britain had been enlarging her burden. ©he had taken up the cause of Belgium atodi -Serbia., and of all small countries threatened with destruction. We owed! a duty to the Empire, and it . should, be our business to endeavour to strengthen that Empire, and encourage its efforts for justice, righteousness, truth and (liberty everywhere. Sixty thousand New Zealanders were doing their best to. uphold the Flag and' the integrity of the Empire. How many of their young men were making the sacri--fice and giving their lives? Large numbers would never come back. Many : of them were the brightest and most promising of our young men—lawyers, doctors), preachers, and teachers. Two of our Rhodes had laid down their lives. Who would fill the blanks ?. They must be filled) from,among.'the boys of todiay. Therefore, he trusted the 'boys in 'front, of him -would*■•study, hard m order to fill up those Wanks, —that they' would work hard at school and at college' •He did not want them to give up their outdoor sports.. They could) study -and:, play. The. boys were needed more today than ever before to make 'up for ; the blanks caused by the sadi and- dleplor- : able war. 'v - -■•■' The boys then saluifced) the Flag, after, which the Nation a! Anthem was, sung and* cheers given for, the boys at the front and! for the (Rev. Mr-lMacKerizie". ",' _. Visitors to the schoql.'%Ygr« greatly impressed at the smartness vvaltih wlnchi the -boys performed! their.drill, and also at their very fine rendering of two verses of the National Anthem.

GFRiLS' CENTRAL, .„v iMir T. A.' H. , Field,. M.P., was the - speaker at the Girls' ICentral ; School. jJominion Day, he salid, was the anniversary of the day Ithat New Zealand/was proclaimed! a, Dominion—when it 'became grown, up. In everyone's life there \yere ■different stages—infant, schooh college and then out into the great world'. So, it was in a nation's life. , First thfere was the infant settlement—in 1840;' tpen,v wiien the child could: take care of ltfeelf -, there came then, when grown'nip New Zealand be-,-.' came a Dominioii--in. 1907. People): when they became 21—grown^iip—had a vote, but New Zealand had no vote yet in Imperial matters. Mr Hughes, when, in England recently, (had) said he was_.the Prime Mihistfcer of the -Amstralian Com-: nionwealth'. that had. sent so many men, to the war, and yet a man in England who oould not read! had a vote for. either peace or war when 'his representativewas decided, while Mr Hughes and. the Overseas , Dominions had none. _SOme ;>day there would be an Imperial' Parliament, and New Zealand would*-be represented in that Parliament and have a, vote. There were seyerai {Dominions—young nations tied up in a <bund'le that could not be Ibroken. Tlie bundle was called the Empire: Germaavy thought that, when tne first gun was ■fired the rope that tied the British Empire together wouid break and she would be able.to conquer it piocemeaL Instead of ; that, the ' rope, though, invisible and lighter *han air, had proved stronger than steel.. The rope was called patriotic sentiment. Mr Field made passin"- reference to the foundation of the Nelson Settlement—the ( arrival of thV first settlers, the trials and of the pioneers, the unrest and anxiety following the Wairau massacre, and the bard times, through which -the people passed owing to shortage of money -and food. He. continuedl: "When you look! at beautiful'"Nelson; with its magnificient trees, and; thie Waimeas. you should always x-emejh'Ber; the early settlers and their 'hardships, and how much we owe them. "They, .and those like them-laid the foundation of the Dominion of New ZealandC ?arid it. is for you when ..you. crrow up '/to help to build on that foundation ; fbe as brave and uncomplaining as - your grandfathers and gi-and-motherss"- ■"'■■ Mr Field said there were brave boys and girls to-day, and he proceeded 'to -tell the story of Jack Cornwell, a 46£-year-old' <hero of the Jutland Battle, ,who remained at bis post after all the'crew of 'his gu'n had been or unto death. "ThP o-reatest praise that anyone can merit; _ laid Ml- Field, in conclusion, "as Jthat he or she was faithful unto death, lnat ■boy Jack iCornwell emibodies the spirit of the [British Empire, of which the Dominion of New Zealand is proud to form a part. God 1 grant that before next Do'minion Dav the 'Empire may be enjoying an honourable, victorious, and lasting peace." _ - Tlie girls -saluted the Flag, sang the National Anthem; and gave cheers for the King, the Government of New Zealand, and'Mr Field.

THE SUDEi SCHOOLS. There were similar ceremonies at the md'-i r.ehools. The Rev. Th\. Weeks was I the speaker at''.Haven Road Scfcool. and \Mrs T. A. H. Field at Hampden Street School). At Tasman and Brook Street Schools the addresggs -were given by mem'bers. of the teaching staff. Government Departments and pi'ofessional firms were closed, but Dominiqiu Day was not observed as a general holiday. •, /