KING’S BIRTHDAY MESSAGE.

Shannon News, 25 May 1923, Page 4

KING’S BIRTHDAY MESSAGE.

‘ ‘ INSTRUMENT FOR JUSTICE

AND PEACE.” A GREAT INHERITANCE. AUCKLAND, Last Night. His Excellency the Governor-Gene-ral has received ‘ the following messages, which their Majesties the King and Queen, have been graciously pleased to address to the children in the elementary schools of the Empire, on Empire Day, May 24. THE KING’S 1 MESSAGE. The King’s message reads: —“To the children in the elementary schools of the Empire: On this day, my people in all parts of the world join to celebrate their unity and to draw closer the common ties'which >hold them together.' Each of our many peoples has its own life to live, each has its own work to do; yet all are members of one family, sharing their sorrows and joy's. You have learned how the Empire was built up by brave and wise men and women in past, and it is only by courage, wisdom and unselfishness that it will endure. It is a great inheritance. Your fathers and forefathers made it; its future welfare and good name are, under the providence of God, in your hands. Do not think of it as a .thing far away from you. Every one of you counts and what you do and learn now will decide how far you will Ire able to play your part worthily when you grov/ up. Get knowledge, be brave, honourable and kind, thinking of others before yourselves and always play the game. So will you lit yourselves to hand down this community of free nations to your children and grandchildren, as a great instrumexit for justice, peace and goodwill, wliiah will deserve the respect and esteem of mankind.”

THE QUEEN’S TO THE G 1 ULS. The Queen’s message to the girls in the elementary schools of the Empire reads —“ On this day of memory, and hope, which is also the birthday of the good Queen Victoria, this is my message to you—Daughtei-s of our worldwide family of lxations and peoples: Think always of what you can do to make your homes happy and how you can best prepare yourselves to make happy the homes for generations of children which will follow you. In our vast Empire there are many kinds of homes and many different customs. The home which fosters clean minds and kind hearts, is God’s temple, and the spirit of a good home, whether it be rich or poor, is one of the best things' in the world. You can learn many lessons at school, which will help you to become wise and useful citizens of the British Commonwealth, but you can learn and practise nothing better for yourselves and all members of the great British family, than the simple lessons of love, kindness and unselfishness, which, in cloud or sunshine, are the strength and beauty of life.” MU. MASSEY’S MESSAGE. Empire Day is being celebrated in London in a manner Avhich will bring the occasion prominently before the people of the capital. The great daily newspapers are taking a prominent part. • The " Daily Express,” which is holding a demonstration in Trafalgar' Square, has cabled to Mi-. Massey for a message for presentation to the people of Britain, and Mr. Massey today despatched the following cable:—. "Empire Day stands predominant as a reminder of the kinship which binds the Dominions to each other and to the Motherland. Freedom of thought, speech and action, illustriously won gen rations ago by our ancestors, are the laurels which citizens of to-day share, and under which they live. New Zealand, as the young Britain of the South Seas, feels the power which her allegiance to the great Empii'e gives. She stands stronger to-day than ever before, in her whole-hearted determination to shoulder her responsibilities for the protection of the Crown and the 1-ights and liberties of the Empire. New Zealand knows it is Britain’s aim always to see that the crowning achievement, the peace of the world is maintained; working steadily and tenaciously for preservation of that peace and for the principles under which it was secured. New Zealand asks her citizens to be unwavering in their loyalty to the King and the Empire, which is the only guarantee for our heritage. Millions of our fellow-citizens have held their lives as nought' in striving for the good of humanity, for righteous- 1 ness and for freedom, and it is painly the . duty of the British peoples throughout the Empire to see that the sacrifices made not only in recent years, but through centuries, for good of all were not made in vain.”