WREATH LAID IN PROTEST

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31277, 25 January 1967, Page 1

WREATH LAID IN PROTEST

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 24. While Air Vice-Marshal Ky was attending an official luncheon in Wellington today a party of about 30 returned servicemen from both world wars laid a wreath of red and white flowers on the Cenotaph.

In a simple ceremony marked by decorum, the men marched quietly from the steps near Parliament Buildings to the Cenotaph, about 50 yards away. They lined the base of the Cenotaph and in a reproduction of traditional Anzac Day services two of them walked forward and laid the wreath against th. main column of the Cenotaph.

Anzac Prayer

After laying the wreath, the two men bowed their heads in a minute’s silence and then recited the Anzac prayer.

Earlier, a spokesman for the group said that they were doing this to show their disgust at the way the National War Museum was being denigrated. He said his group objected to Marshal Ky laying a wreath in the Hall of Memories. This was using the war museum for political purposes, he said. The spokesman said the wreath was also laid to reaffirm what it meant to be fighting Fascism. On the wreath a card said, “In memory of those who fell in the fight against Fascism and military dictators.” k