Wider Anzac observance suggested in report

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33091, 5 December 1972, Page 29

Wider Anzac observance suggested in report

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, December 3. A suggestion, that the Anzac Day Act might be widened in scope to make its observance more relevant to young people, is made in a report published by the church and society commission of the National Council of Churches.

The report follows a consultation in Wellington in July, attended by representatives of the Government, local government, the churches, youth and peace groups, and the Returned Services Association.

The secretary of the commission (Mr A. Gnanasunderam) said the consultation was convened by the commission to bring together people with opposing views on the observance of Anzac Day, and to find out whether it would be possible to observe the day with meaning to old and young. The meeting chairman was the Ombudsman (Sir Guy Powles). USE FOR PROTEST A summary of the views expressed says that tensions had arisen during some Anzac Day observances when a day of commemoration for some was used by others for protest. “The view was expressed,” says the report, “that even those who had lost in the wars persons on whom they depended, received from the Anzac Day observance a comfort in feeling a part of the community. This feeling was being taken away by protesters.” But if Anzac Day was to remain purely a commemora-

tion, particularly of the two world wars, it would gradually lose its significance and fade out. If it was to continue as a memorial, people must consider whether it should develop into something meaningful to the present generation as well, beyond what was contemplated in the Anzac Day Act. R.S.A. IMAGE The report said the commemoration did not glorify war. No-one wanted another war — particularly returned servicemen who had seen its horrors. This impression, however, did not come out clearly, because of the image many people had of the R.S.A. and its close association with Anzac Day ceremonies.

Government defence policy, often announced at R.S.A. meetings, had the approval of the association, and R.S.A. members drew the ballot for Army service. There was thus a tendency to associate these views with the R.S.A.'s observance of Anzac Day. The report said this feeling was strengthened when speeches at some ceremonies explained or extolled the Government’s defence policy, or its involvement in the Vietnam war. “This was felt to be a main factor in tension created dur-

ing Anzac Day observances, and the removal of such impressions would help in the protest situation. “NO HOBBY-HORSES” “It would also help if some kind of guidelines could be given to speakers, so that they did not use the occasion to ride their own hobbyhorse.” The report said there was general agreement that in addition to commemoration, co-operation and rededication should also be constant factors. Even if the interpretation of rededication varied with different people; common to all would be rededication to the principle of sacrifice for the good of the community. Because of its concern for peace, said the report, the R.S.A. had seen the need to widen the form of observance by inviting those who had been enemies to attend. It was the same motivation —to preserve peace and prevent killing — which made young people use Anzac Day for the laying of wreaths to the dead and dying in Vietnam.

“There could be room for allowing a favourable motivation on the part of young people, without concluding that they were protesting.” Wherever possible, local

authorities should bring various groups in the community together to arrange Anzac Day services. It was also agreed, said the report, that as there was no intention to make the observance of Anzac Day look like a glorification of war, care should be taken to avoid expressing political views during the ceremonies. Mr Gnanasunderam said last evening it was hoped that those who had participated in the consultation could influence decisions in their own organisations of the future observance of Anzac Day.