EMPIRE DAY

Southland Times, Issue 21093, 27 May 1930, Page 7

EMPIRE DAY

CELEBRATIONS IN AUSTRALIA. (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Sydney, May 25. The Empire Day ceremonies were held throughout Australia yesterday, speakers paying tribute to the Empire builders of the past. At the Royal Empire Society’s dinner, Lord Stonehaven declared that five years’ residence in the Commonwealth as a Gover-nor-General had taught him that loyalty to the Empire was the fundamental feebtig in Australia on which all British peoples could bank. Mr Bavin, speaking at- a State function in Sydney) moved a resolution affirming the determination of the people of New South Wales to do their utmost to ensure the closest union between all parts of the Empire. He said there were few people in their midst who did hot support the Empire, but eagerly took advantage of the benefits and privileges conferred by citizenship of the Empire. A great audience at the Town Hall in the evening accorded a wonderful reception to Florence Austral, the Australian singer, appearing for the first time since her return to her own land. The programme included patriotic songs in keeping with the spirit of the day. TIGHTENING BONDS OF EMPIRE. Ottawa, May 24. The Prime Minister, Mr King, in an Empire Day message to Canada and the Empire generally stressed the need of tightening the bonds of Empire in welding together an economic unit. In conclusion he said: “Trade is essentially a matter of business, but in the conduct of our national business, we are happy to remember we are members of a great community of nations under the Brtish Crown which offers an unexampled opportunity for fraternal and commercial enterprise in the era of vast development which awaits the world in this twentieth century.” SPECIAL ENTHUSIASM CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON. London, May 25. Empire Day was celebrated in London with special enthusiasm on account of Miss Arny Johnson’s success. ' Crowds flocked to Hyde Park, where community singing was organized and the conductor, Mr Gibson Young, asked the visitors from the dominions to flourish their programmes, and this revealed an astonishing number present. The pageant of the Empire was followed by a service conducted by Dr Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury. Prince George reviewed between 6,000 and i 7,000 naval and military cadets.