PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13742, 25 May 1910, Page 6

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

Except in the case of the few trades to which Arbitration Court awards have given Empire Day as a holiday, the day passed practically unnoticed yesterday in Christchurch. The mercantile community had, with what now seems sad prescience, decided to observe June 3rd as-the holiday, and as that date has now become the Sovereign's birthday, it will no doubt remain one of the fixed holidays of the year. The Government this year discouraged the idea of even recognising Empire day, by giving orders that no flags were to be flown on Government offices. However much one may wish that the. time-honoiired date of May 24th should bo retained as a public holiday, it seems that it is now to be . dropped, just as November 9th will now ceaso to be observed, for tho reason that for so many years has given it ,an honoured'place jn the calendar. This year, therefore, one holiday less will be observed, for th*ero is as yet no Prince of "Wales, and even if young Prince Edward, tlie heir-apparent, were to receive that title at once, it is .unlikely that hi 3 birthday, Juno 23rd, would be made the occasion of a fixed general holiday. It has been suggested that, in order to get over the difficulty arising from Empire Day and the Sovereign's birthday being only some ten days apart, the former should be observed on Novomber 9th. It doeei not really matter when Empire Day is, celebrated, as long as; it is not overlooked; all that, is necessary is that a date should be selected that is as suitable as possible for all parts of the Empire , . The November date would suit Australia and Now Zealand, and South Africa, but it possibly might not find favour, in Canada, where it would fall

amid winter snows. Lord Heath's suggestion that Juno 28th should be chosen preserves the connection with Qnecn Victoria's memory, as that was the day of her coronation, and we would not willingly let drop the commemorative nature of the celebration. The date, however, falls within 'ess than a month of thft Bang's Birthday, and may Dβ objected to on that account. Whatever is done, however, the observance of Empire Day, with its fine association of ideas, its stimulus to true Imperial unity, must not bfl Abandoned. In Anniversary Day and Dominion Day we pay, in the one caso as Canterbury people, and in the other as New Zea landers, some little tribute to past. achievement, and thereby gain courage for future effort. Empire Day should receive recognition for the same reason, on. a higher plan* ujid on a wider scale, because on that occasion we celebrate our citizenship, not of a province *.r a country, but of an Empire unsurpassed in power, prosperity, and ii.fluence. In view of the somewhat chaotic, state into which tho question of public holidays has just been thrown, the Government ehould take, action this session with the view t.f reducing it to order, and wo may trust that Empire Day will then receive the distinction it deserves.