TOO MOURNFUL?

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 91, 18 April 1929, Page 20

TOO MOURNFUL?

ANZAC DAY CEREMONIES.

GOVERNOR'S SUGGESTION,

'TOO MANY LENGTHY SPEECHES."

"I am particularly keen that Anzac Day will always be observed in this country. It is well worth while, and it will be a sad day when the glorious iMtli is not celebrated," said the GovernorGeneral, Sir Charles Fergusson, at a gathering of over 400 returned soldiers and their wives at the Scots lLa.ll last night. His Excellency suggested that those responsible for the observance of Anzac Day in the Dominion should alter the character of the ceremony. "In the past wc have been inclined to strike too mournful —not solemn —a note," said Sir Charles. "We ought to put sadness out of it and have more glory introduced. Glory, for what our gallant men achieved. (Applause.). If this is done it will do a little more to harmonise with the general feeling. There have been too many lengthy speeches that all those who assemble on Anzac Day cannot hear. I would suggest that the Anzac Day service should be very short, simple, yet impressive.

"Of course, this is only my own idea. Some of you may not agree with me," added the Governor-General. "I will be going away soon, and this is the last chance I will have of telling you what is in my mind." His Excellency said Anzac Day had been rather a trial in the past. For instance, sailors from warships in port last year left their ships to take part in the ceremony at 7.30 a.m. and did not return to them until 2.30 p.m. There was, he said, no more touching scene in the world than the celebrations before the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Armistice Day, which corresponded to Anzac Day in New Zealand. On that day the whole of London collected at the Cenotaph a little prior to the hour of 11 a.m. The Lord's prayer was recited, and then two minutes' silence was observed. A hymn, "Oh, God, Our Help in Ages Past" was sung, and the service ended, except that for some hours afterwards thousands of people filed past to lay their wreaths at the foot of the Cenotaph. "I believe that if a similar ceremony were observed here it would be better than our previous commemorations, and tluit it would be more in consonance with the feeling as time goes on," his Excellency said. "Next week is a week in which our memory goes back to many things, and we are all looking forward to the tim© when we can gather in one mass at some pla.ee apart and pay our tribute together, much as it is done in London. We do not want it to be a hard, sad day, but a ceremony that is more cheerful—one which all will look forward to, and in which all will delight to take part." (Applause.)