OBSERVANCE OF ANZAC DAY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21745, 30 March 1936, Page 10

OBSERVANCE OF ANZAC DAY

CHANGE NOT FAVOURED

OPINIONS IN CHRISTCHURCH

“The Christchurch executive feel that for the present there should be no change in the observance of Anzac Day,” said the Rev. F. ■ T. Head, vice-president of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association, last evening, in commenting on the decision of the Auckland branch to take a plebiscite on the question of changes in the manner of observance.

Mr Read said that it was realised that within five or 10 years the significance of the day might be weakened and there might be a movement towards transferring Anzac Day to the nearest Sunday. While the day was legally set apart for observance it should be strictly obseived. At the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association held in Wellington in June of last year, it was

unanimously : decided that there should be universal observance of Anzac Day as a sacred day. Another member of the Christchurch executive, Dr. F. Birkinshaw, said that since it had been enacted that Anzac Day should in all ways be observed as a Sunday, it was obvious that a full-day observance was implied. “The consensus of opinion ap-

pears to be that Anzac Day should continue to be observed as at present,” Dr. Birkinshaw added. “When it falls on a Saturday there is always a certain amount of uneasiness among the trading community, but the matter really 7 is one for the central executive at Wellington to decide. Sooner or later the day will move to the nearest Sunday, I suppose, and will eventually be forgotten. That prospect is greatly to be deprecate d.”

were soon replaced. Numerous telephone lines were also out of commission in the town and in some country districts. All communication between Greymouth and Reefton was destroyed, through trees falling across the road and carrying away the lines,'but no serious property damage has been reported from country districts, the tornado in Greymouth apparently being of local disturbance. It blew itself out among the hills to the eastward of the town. One of the luckiest escapes was that of Police Sergeant J. Isbister and his wife, whose house in Arney street suffered worse than any other home. The occupants were having

breakfast in a rear room when the tornado struck the house. They were not injured. In the front bedroom, which they had recently left, a large beam of wood came right (through the ceiling, staking a wire mattress and bed.

Work of Reconstruction hj

Through the efforts of a gang of workmen the iron was replaced on the roof of the Opera House this afternoon, the interibr was cleaned, and the usual picture benefit was held to-night. It is understood that to-morrow efforts will be made, with the aid of jacks, to restore the building to its original line. This afternoon the rain showers became less frequent, giving pro-perty-owners an opportunity for repairs. Persons were engaged m nailing new iron on nearly every house caught by the tornado. Awkward repairs on the roof of St. Patrick's Church were carried out expeditiously, enabling the evening services to be held as usual. Three buildings, however, are beyond all hope of repair—the Surf Club’s pavilion, Hart’s sash and door factory, and the borough cart shed. The pavilion was completely flattened and also the adjoining dressing sheds, not one piece of timber remaining standing. After the tornado the wind swung round to the south-west, lashing the sea to abnormal heights all along the coast. It came right over the road to Westport, causing minor damage on low-lying portions.

The tornado missed the business part of the town and no loss was suffered by tradespeople, except where the roof was blown off a tea warehouse and windows were broken in three motor garages and in one confectionery shop.