THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1913. DOMINION DAY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 20 September 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1913. DOMINION DAY.

On Monday next the public servants, bank officials and school children of New Zealaad will take holiday in celebration of the fact that this country was permitted by Sir Joseph .Ward to develop from a Colony-—of which we all were justly proud—into a real live Dominion. If the bank officials, public servants, and school children fail to discover" any particular advantage in existence under the new era, they will,' at anyrate, be afforded an opportunity of reflecting upon the munificence of at least one of our farseeing statesmen. The man who grants a respite from labour nowadays is almost entitled to the same adoration as the man who kicks a goal at a football match. But, seriously speaking, Dominion Day must have some significance, otherwise a sane Government would not perpetuaate it. What is its significance? Is there anything in the changing of our name that calls for special recognition? Has our credit been the better established since we assumed the rank and title of a Dominion? Do our people breathe a more healthy atmosphere? Are we individually and collectively more prosperous? Have we any logical reason for closing our public offices, and for demonstrating? If we have, then why should not the whole of us take part in the celebratidn? Why should only a section of the community make merry? These are questions that require an answer, for they are pertinent. As, however, it is improbable that anybody in authority will take the trouble to tell us what all the fuss is about, and as five-snrtlft of the people will be minding their own business on Domiui«ta Day, it seems almost) a farce to discuss the question at all, unless by way of pointing a moral, Put,

when we come to reflect upon the traditions of dur race, the history of those pioneers who laid the foundations of what we hope will become one of the. brightest stars in the firmament of. our great Empire, we are satisfied tttat a real service could be rendered the State by the proper observance of a day upon which people would do honour to the memories of those who have gone. If public demonstratiens were held, in wffich old settlers were to take a prominent part, and ajb which refenence were made to the great weitfc of sur yeneers, we should at leaet encourage that feeling oi veneration wKichis so sadlf lacking in the young people of to-day. We might also do something in the way of impressing upon the modern yomtb, not only his debt of gratitude to thoso wh© have gotao, but his responsibility in maintaining the honour and integrity of the Empire of which New Zealand forms a part. But, someone will ask, have we not an Empire - Day spoil which to aj>peal to the patriotism of the people? True, we bare; but, like Dominion Day, it is observed in a half-rhearted manner. "We have no real festivals in this country outside those that have come to us by tradition. Labour Day, Arbor Day, Empire Day, Dominion Day, all of these are used as a pretext for closing the public offices and inednveniencing the trading community. If we are going to perpetuate these holidays, why not make them if some value? Why not create in them a real interest and significance? It were better far that the whele box and dice of them were abolished, than that we should continue to oelebrate them ia such a fashion as to make ourselves' ridiculous.