HATS OFF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume 1, Issue 7, 13 February 1914, Page 6

HATS OFF.

To the Editor of TH$ SUN. < Sir,—"What is the correct thing to do when the band starts, to play. the National Anthem? Is it to grab your hat and stick, and make a bee-line for the door, as though the Anthem were the starting shot for a 75yds sprint? Or is it to stand upright,, more or less respectfully, and listen patiently? These enquiries are induced by what happened at the Royal Artillery Band concert the other evening. There is a sad lack of uniformity—some rush out as though the strains Were brickbats, "while others stand in consciously respectful attitudes. I would like to do the right thing, but I object to being trampled to death while doing it. Reasonably loyal people, such as New Zealanders are, should be educated into the belief that the A-nthem is part of the programme, to be listened to standing, just as is the Hallelujah ChorusOn Wednesday night the band would required the assistance of the Royal Artillery guns to have persuaded a great part of the audience to stay, to listen to the last„. strains of the ; Royal Artillery trumpets. ' 1 Gorsave'' / gets a very indifferent hearing from ' local audiences, but the indifference, i hope, is due to want of thought rather than to laek of .respe&t .to * the Sovereign, who represents, the Empire. —Yours, etc., - NO KNAVISH " TRICKS.