HOMAGE PAID TO FLAG

Southland Times, Issue 24244, 30 September 1940, Page 3

HOMAGE PAID TO FLAG

Brilliant Display At Rugby Park

PARADE IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

Teams representing almost every kind of winter and summer sport played in Southland took part in the national fitness rally held under the auspices of the Invercargill Metropolitan Patriotic Committee at Rugby Park on Saturday. The park was bathed in bright sunshine for the whole afternoon and with 3500 athletes, men, women, boys and girls, dressed in a host of gay athletic uniforms in contrasting colours and with six bands in ceremonial array, the scene was a brilliant one. The rally served two purposes, each blending with the other. The first was to pay homage to the Empire’s flag and the second was to inculcate the spirit of physical fitness by showing what the sports clubs of the province had done to foster that ideal. The rally was an unqualified success. Including the 3500 participants in the parade, tabloid sports and the sports exhibitions, the attendance was nearly 6000. There were about 50 teams in the parade and slightly fewer than that in the tabloid sports. The sum of £217 was paid at the gate and about 1100 primary school children paid a small sum for tickets. After expenses have been taken out, it is expected that more than £2OO will be available for the London air raid distress fund. The connection between the purpose of the rally and the spirit of resistance shown by the people of London in air raids was emphasized when the chairman of the Patriotic Committee (Mr W. Grieve) read a “cablegram which, over the signature of the Deputy Mayor (Mr J. R. Martin) was sent to the Lord Mayor of London. It read:— “The people of Southland gathered here in Invercargill, the chief city of the province, at a great fitness rally send you a message of gratitude for the wonderful courage being displayed by all . Londoners. The enemy is striking at the heart of our Empire, but he strikes in vain. Trust in God and keep your powder dry.” OUTSTANDING DISPLAY The outstanding feature of the afternoon was the grand parade and march past of teams of athletes and representatives of sports and kindred organizations. Led by the 20th Company (Bluff), Class II of the National Military Reserve, 50 teams marched past the main stand, where the officer commanding the Territorial Unit of the Ist Southland Regiment (Major C. E. Lees), standing behind a railing draped with the Union Jack, took the salute while massed bands played. Erect in bearing, with arms swinging well, all teams marched past in true military style and the packed grandstand was generous with applause. About 1100 children representing all the Invercargill primary schools opened the rally with a programme of boys’ and girls’ athletic events which, under the direction of teachers, were run off rapidly. Upon the completion of these events, six bands formed up in front of the main stand. They were led by the band of the Invercargill Caledonian Society which was followed by the Salvation Army Band, the Civic Band, the Ist Battalion Boys’ Band, the Southland Boys’ High School Drum, Trumpet and Bugle Band and the band of the Ist Battalion. The 20th Company (Bluff) and all sports teams had formed up on the north side of the ground when the massed brass bands conducted by Mr A. R. Wills, struck up the New Zealand Anthem, “God Defend New Zealand.” IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

The Army area officer (Major H. C. MacKenzie) gave the order for the march past to begin. With the bands under Lieutenant A. McMaster playing martial airs, with standards waving proudly in a light breeze and with the colourful athletic uniforms of the teams set off with a note of realism by the 20th Company (Bluff) preceding, and all marching correctly, the ceremony was an impressive one. The athletic teams were led by two teams of young women representing the Murihiku Swimming Club and then followed young women representing the Pioneer Sports Club, women’s cricket clubs, High School basketball players (four teams); Southland Technical College basketball players (nine teams) and the St. Catherine’s Dominican Convent.

These were followed by teams representing the Oreti Surf Life Saving Club (two teams), Invercargill Harriers’ Club (two teams), Y.M.C.A., St. Paul’s Harriers Club (two teams), High School football teams (seven teams), Kennington Football Club, Old Boys’ Football Club (two teams), Marist Football Club, Southland Wrestling Association, Southland Boxing Association, Pirates and Collegiate Basketball Clubs, St. John Ambulance Association (two teams), women hockey players; Invercargill Swords Club, tennis players, primary schools football and basketball players, Sea Scouts, and cyclists riding two abreast arm-in-arm. DEPUTY-MAYOR’S ADDRESS After the parade had reformed behind the massed bands, the DeputyMayor, who was introduced by the manager of the rally (Mr P. Linton Hodge), congratulated the organizers of the function on the success of their efforts and referred to the splendid work being carried out by sports clubs in Southland. “Here in New Zealand we must be prepared for all emergencies and the steadfastness of the British people is the witness to what organization can do,” said Mr Martin. “We are making a start with a scheme to organize all our men through the Home Guard and the emergency schemes. This is being done because it is essential that everyone should be fit and trained.” Mr Martin said he wished to thank the sports clubs for carrying on throughout the past year in spite of many difficulties, and if the war continued he hoped that the clubs would carry on in the same efficient manner. Today it was more necessary than ever that the clubs should continue to function so that they could play their part in the task of getting everyone fit and organized. If the people rallied around the authorities they could await the future with confidence and, as Britain was doing today, carry on in spite of all difficulties. o “1 wish to thank the management for this splendid function” continued Mr Martin. “At the head of the organizers .is the area recreation officer (Mr Lloyd Woods) and much credit is due to him and to the chairman and secretary of the Invercargill Metropolitan

Patriotic Committee, Mr W. Grieve, and Mr L. S. Alsweiler respectively.” Mr Martin said he was somewhat disappointed with the attendance at the rally in view of its national significance. Then followed the inspiring “Salute to the Hag.” “Fellow countrymen, the King’s flag—the flag that flies over the British Empire—is the Union Jack, the flag under which no slave can breathe,” said Mr Alsweiler. “It is a flag of liberty,” Its red symbolizes Love and Devotion. Its white symbolizes Purity and Education. Its blue symbolizes Honour and Industry. “Grand old Union Jack—fly to the breezes of every wind under Heaven, reminding us of what British citizenship means. What is implied in the salute to the flag? Worship, Honesty, Industry. Hag of the Empire, fly to victory.” Two verses of the National Anthem were then played by the massed bands under Lieutenant McMaster. In accordance with the custom at Olympic Games, scores of pigeons were released from a dais in front of the main stand—the Olympic symbol of supreme effort. The parade was then dismissed.