MUST BE RETAINED

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 103, 3 May 1934, Page 12

MUST BE RETAINED

ANZAC DAY OBSERVANCE

That Anzac Day. should be retained for ajl time as a national anniversary, and that the reason for observing the day should be* instilled in. the minds of children, was advocated by members at last night's meeting of the executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association. The matter arose out of the following resolution moved by the Rev. W. Branywell Scott:—"That the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association reaffirms its decision to oppose any alteration in tho date of celebration of Anzac Day, and that the day be kept as a .'sacred day." Mr;; Scott said that he strenuously opposed any alteration in the date of Anzac Day. The fact should be stressed that Anzac Day represented to the soldiers a day that spoke of the birth of a nation. If that idea was implanted in the minds of the children, Anzac Day would be retained in perpetuity. The idea was prevalent that many people were niaking the day a holiday. While the soldiers wanted the day kept sacred—and this was clearly evidenced by the way they turned out last week —he felt it would be better to keep a sacred morning and let the people please themselves what they did in the afternoon, the concert to be held in the evening. The difficulty so far as this was concerned was that the children's services in the schools were held in the morning. He was not in favour of these services being held the day before., Other speakers stressed the need of Anzac Day being recognised as a. national "birthday." After further discussion, the resolution was carried It was also decided that a copy of the resolution be placed before the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association on June 26 and 27 with the request that the priacigle, bo endorsed. " :