THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 25 April 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Anzac Day Observance.

It seems a very great pity that there should be so much uncertainty and mis, apprehension regarding the observance of Anzac Day. Although Cabinet declared to-day a general holiday, there is, of course, no compulsion for business people to close their premises. In some places the Government's request has been acceded to, in others no notice has been taken of the event, ivliilc in yet other places some arc closing and others are not. The Wellington Drapers' Association decided not to observe a holiday, and in consequence has been attacked by the Returned Soldiers' Association and accused of disloyalty. There is certainly something in the contention of the Drapers’ Association that Anzac Day will probably degenerate into an ordinary holiday,''and be looked upon as a day ef amusement, which was far from the original intention, viz., to commemorate the glorious feat of the Anzacs on that never-to-be-forgotten 25th April, 1915, when the Overseas soldiers attempted and achieved the seemingly impossible, and to keep in grateful memory those nobio sons of Australasia who made the great sacrifice on that memorable occasion. The returned Soldiers’ Association is urging that Anzac Day should be a statutory holiday, which would ensure its fitting celebration. Things are Unsatisfactory as they arc, and if some suph step is not taken, Anzac Day celebration will speedily become a thing of the past, or degenerate into a common holiday, with no special significance, and that w'Ould be a thousand pities. That glorious achievement at Gallipoli which we commemorate today marks the entrance of Australasia in the greatest war of all history, and as such it is fitting that our celebration of an event of such importance, and such a magnificent feat, should be of a fitting character. It is hoped that steps will be taken by the Government to prevent a repetition of the muddle that has occurred in connection with to-day's celebration.

Municipal Matters. The biennial municipal elections, that are to be held nest week, recall the fact that Otaki town is still a town district. On more than one occasion the initial steps have been taken with a view to forming the town into a borough, but for some reason or other.; we seem to get “no forrurder.” It is many months ago now that the Otaki Town Board discussed this matter, and unanimously passed a resolution to the effect that steps be taken to at once convert the town into a borough; yet we have heard of nothing more being done, and the Board has been content —as in so many other instances, unfortunately—to allow the matter to drop; It is high time that Otaki took ils rightful place among the progressive places of this Dominion, and the formation of the town into a borough would, be a slighf step in that direction, a step which, we believe, the great majority of the townspeople favour, and which they look to the T3own Board to put into effect. We trust the matter will be revived at nent meeting of the Board, and that the project will be pushed forward to a successful issue without any further delay.