NATIONAL DAY

CHINESE CELEBRATE

WAR CLOUDS HAVE PASSED

■ For the first time for 10 years members of *the Chinese community throughout New Zealand today celebrated their national day iii.Jthe knowledge that war had been banished from their native land. Today the celebration was one of rejoicing, and an expression of the. hopes that all hold for the future peace and prosperity of China. Several hundred of the members of the Wellington Chinese community gathered at Karori Park this morning, and'after a brief ceremony the remainder of the day was given over to sports and games of all. kinds, in which- young and old joined with enthusiasm. .:....

In an: address from a dais over which was mounted a large portrait of Dr. Sun Vat Sen, founder of the Chinese Republic, the Chinese ConsulGeneral, Mr. Wang, said that the fla^g of the Kuomintang, which flew above together with the flag of the Republic, symbolised, with its white sun on a sky-blue ground,, the open-air life so desirable among the young, people of China. It was fitting, therefore, that the members of the , -younger generation should achieve health and physical fitness in such a celebration as was being held beneath the sun and the open blue sky.

The chairman (Mr. W. Kwok) stressed the tremendous sacrifices that had been made and the blood- that had been shed during the' past 10 years. It was for those present to do all in their power to see that those sacrifices had not been in vain, and that the victory was made worth while. '

SPIRIT OF REPUBLIC

Explaining the significance of the occasion, Mr. W. Wan, secretary of the New Zealand Chinese Association, said that it was in 1911 that "the Chinese nation rose up against the Manchu Dynasty and drove it from the throne, eventually founding the Chinese Republic on January 1, 1912. Therefore today did not mark the first day of the Republic, but it was the day which was set aside to •commemorate the spirit of -the Republic and the starting of the Chinese .people on the road to freedom. '.-'-.

"We find that this particular day has double significance," said Mr. Wan. "It commemorates not only 1911, when we fought \ for national freedom against our own ■ Emperor, but today we gather here in this particular year when we have fought for and won also our fight for freedom against Japan." He had been instructed to tell all those assembled, said Mr. Wall, to enjoy themselves and to be happy; after today they would have to shoulder their responsibilities, realising that neither the establishment of the Republic nor the gaining of victory over. Japan • completely achieved the end which this particular day. commemorated—the spirit of freedom, of equality, and of., political self-determination. . . .

Many of those taking part.in the celebrations had donned colourful holiday attire, and conspicuous among the numbers of happy children were a band of Chinese Boy Scouts. Programmes of races and games were arranged, some of the games being of national origin.

Tonight a formal dinner is to be given to mark- the occasion, and Ministerial and Consular representatives will be entertained.