QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY OBSERVANCE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27055, 2 June 1953, Page 8

QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY OBSERVANCE

Thousands Watch Military Parade In Christchurch

CORONATION CELEBRATIONS BEGIN

No birthday of a sovereign of the British Commonwealth has been more widely or enthusiastically observed in Christchurch than that yesterday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Loyalty to the Queen was demonstrated to the full, for ft was obvious that the “Coronation fever” had nearly reached its peak. The Queen’s Birthday this year had a special significance as it was observed on the eve of her Coronation. Crowds saw the decorations in the streets and on buildings. The Queen’s Birthday was marked, traditionally, by a review and the salute of the colours by the three services— Navy, Army and Air Force in Hagley Park; but the following parade of the services through the main streets of Christchurch fell below the standard set at the saluting base. The parade through the city was unspectacular and was a disappointment to the many thousands who lined the route. The public attendance was the greatest since the centennial processions.

The absence of bands in the parade perhaps contributed to the poor marching, but better discipline could have contributed much. The great majority of the men on parade had attended under orders for a compulsory parade and were paid accordingly. As the parade sections swung into Cathedral square, few were impressed. Except for the officers, the parade generally lacked appearance and martial bearing. One section—the Army Service Corps—deserved mention. The men had fed the troops at Hagley Park, changed from their denims and then paraded. After a series of confused changing of arms from the right to the left shoulder on the way from Hagley Park, the parade turned right from Armagh street to march past the citizens along the main part of the route. Already chilled by the easterly wind and having waited 15 minutes beyond the scheduled time for the passing of the parade, the huge crowd in Colombo street, south through Cathedral square, began to cheer, but quickly became silent The men, as they marched, down Colombo street did not keep their eyes to the front, but looked to the right and left. They chattered and they laughed as they headed southward in Colombo street to the Square. Approaching the saluting base on the tramway zone opposite the Cathedral, they sharpened in bearing and precision as commands were given. Fly Past of Aircraft The spectacle, for the public, was the fly past of aeroplanes from the Wigram station of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. This was scheduled to follow the parade of the Air Force, but the 28 aeroplanes in formation, made their entrance when the Air Force contingent was giving the salute. The Coronation today will be marked by a civic religious service in the King Edward Barracks in the morning and a Roman Catholic service in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Barbadoes street. In the afternoon there will be a procession of floats and a civic ceremony in Latimer square, and a water and flreworks display, followed by a bonfire, in Hagley Park tonight Other functions will be held to celebrate the Coronation,