ANZAC DAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1938, Page 5

ANZAC DAY

CHARGE IN OBSERVANCE OPPOSED - DECIDED STAND TAKEN BY R.S.A. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Dominion Council of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, at its annual meeting yesterday, opposed any change being made in the manner in which Anzac Day was being observed in the Dominion. The committee in charge of the remits on the subject reported that discussion had shown that local needs and individual opinion varied so much that the committee could not recommend any change likely to meet universal approval. Public'opinion and the feelings of relatives of dead soldiers had to be considered. Mr H. B. Burdekin moved that the Gore remit, that headquarters, be requested to ascertain from its' affiliated branches their members’ opinions as to any alteration in Anzac Day observance in New Zealand, be reinstated.

The president, the Hon W. Perry,M.L.C., said that 'he had considered for some years past that the manner in which New Zealand observed Arjzac Day was wrong, and he still held that opinion. It was fitting that in the morning tribute should be paid to those ■who had fallen, but he contended that the afternoon should be devoted to rejoicing. He felt certain that if a vote were : taken among returned soldiers throughout the Dominion, there would be an overwhelming number in favour of a loosening up in the observance of the day. They should not confuse sentiment with sentimentality. , Amongst others Mr R. Whyborn (Wairarapa) expressed the view that the Association should oppose the com-mercialising-of Anzac Day. He said that public opinion tended to change, as was evidenced by instances of extra payment having been made for work on Anzac Day when it fell on a Saturday or a Sunday. He stated that the continued observance of Anzac Day largely rested with the Association itself. Mr Burdekin amended his motion to provide that a postal ballot should be taken on the subject. The amendment to take a postal ballot was defeated on the voices. Eventually a remit put forward by Invercargill was carried, to the effect that no change be made in the observance of Anzac Day, provided that the times and manner of services.were left to local branches- to suit the needs of particular districts. The president stated that the Australian Imperial Force, which had branches in the principal centres of the Dominion, was desirous of holding a dawn service on Anzac Day in the Dominion, and invited the co-opera-tion of the R.S.A. in such services. Mr W. H. Cannon (Wanganui) said that the Wanganui R.S.A. had for some years held a dawn parade, which was greatly appreciated by the members. “We look upon that service as a sacramental one," he said, “and we arc not going to cut it out for anybody.” It was decided that R.S.A. branches might co-operate with the A.I.F. in dawn services on Anzac Day if they so desired. Considerable discussion took place regarding the dates between which poppies might be sold. A motion to restrict the sales to between April 11 and 25 was defeated and it was decided to leave the sale of poppies to the discretion of associations.