ANZAC DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 273, 12 August 1920, Page 6

ANZAC DAY

NATIONAL HOLIDAY PROPOSED

MR. MASSEY SUPPORTS THE BILL

Mr. G. MITCHELL (Wellington South) moved the second reading of his Anzac Day Bill, which proposes that April 25 shall be a public holiday throughout New Zealand, to bo observed in all respects as if ib wero a Sunday. Tho anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli, ho said, was a fitting day on which to remember and honour the deeds of New Zealand's soldiers in tho greatest of all wars. Tho war was too near to tho present generation for its magnitudo and its significance to be realised fully by the people. But tho men and women of to-day could not fail to understand thab tho war had been a mighty event in history: they were proud to believe that tho' British raco had proved/ itself onco again, and that its sacrifices had not been in vain. It was true that there were people within tho Empire who had been opposed to their country right through the war, but they were not many. Anzac Day was an anniversary that would appeal to the great mass of tho people. Air. Mitchell praised Britain's effort during the war and paid a warm tribute to the Empire's soldiers, who had fought the Germans to a frazzle, and to tho nurses. Tho New Zealand soldier had always been worthy of liia native land, in defeat and victory, in life and in death. The Bill proposed that one day in the year should be dedicated to the soldiers and in particular to the men who had fallen. Anzao Day should not be the occasion for an extra race meeting or other pleasure. It should be a day sacred to men who had died, not to make tho few rich, lmt to make all free. Seventeen thousand New Zealanders, whose graves wero scattered over the battlefields of the world, had a right to be remembered by tho country that had sent them into the field.

The PRIME MINISTER said it gave him great pleasure '.0 support the second reading of the Bill. He had in earlier years expressed the opinion that a day should be set apart for tho celebration of the deeds of New Zealand's soldiers. He Knew of no more suitable day than Ansai Day, and was glad that this day had been selected by the returned soldiers. He hoped that Anzac Day would be a holy day rather than a _ holiday, an;l that the law would make it impossible for it to be treatod as a day of sport and amusemont. It should be a dav of rejoicing and of thanksgiving for the deeds that had left the British raco free and more united than ever beforo in history. It should be a day of mourning for the meta whose deeds would never be forgotten. Anzac Day would be the occasion for telling the story of Anzac to .successive denotations, and for teaching them that their duty was to hand 011 undimmed the splendid traditions that the soldiers had upheld; Mr. L. M. ISITT (Christchureh North) said it would ho a crime against the dead, and against the mothers and tho widows, if Anzac Day were allowed lo becomo a mere day of amusemont. Tho sacred day was a heritage that must not be squandered, Tho Bill was supported warmly by Mr. T. E. Y. Poddon (Westland), who suggested that tho New Zealand memorial on Gallipoli Peninsula, should be unveiled on an Anzac Day, and by Mr. J. Craigio (Timaru), who quoted John Maseficld's prose description of the departure of tho troops for Mtulros for Gallipoli on tho evening of April 24, 1915. Afr. V". H. Potter /Boskill) spoke for the Auckland returned soldiers. The Bill was read a second time on tho voices, and the members rose and sang "God Save the King." The House then adjourned. MAORI WAFVETERANK MR, WRIGHT'S LITTLE BILL. Tha old Maori War veteran question is involved in. Mr. Wright's Maori War Medal Bill. This business . has been before Parliament, scores of times in one form or another, and it was considered that it had been settled many years ago when it was determined that those only who had borne arms under lire in tho Native wars should rceeive the medal, which, by the way, is called the New Zealand War Medal. Possession of this medal entitles a veteran to a pensiou of X.'i per month. There have been many demands that in addition to those who had been under tiro should be included i those others who were enrolled in the forces, but who through force of circumstances did not get tinder fire, but the Government has always resisted these demands. Thej have been resisted also by such honodrnblo members as Mr. W. T. Jennings, who was himself under arms in the Parihaka affair, although not under firt, Ho has always said that the modal would bo depreciated in value by giving it to those who were not nctuallv fiirhtiiiK in the war. Mr. Wrights proposes to give a medal—it cannot be the Now Zenland War Jledal, and therefore he calls his Bill the Maori War Medal Bill—without the right to a. pension. In order to clear the Bill of amirouriation risk, he proposes that the medal shall be paid for by tho recipient. But as was pointed I cut by Sir Heaton Rhodes, the Bill would give the right to this medal to some 3000 persona. There were 6omc 3000 Europeans between the a Res- of 16 and 50, besides all the friendly Natives, who were enrolled in the forces at the time, but many of them did not serve. Included; among tho number wero Mr. Massey's father and his own father, and his colleague, (lie Prime Minister. and he would perhaps have the right as descendants to claim this iuedal. Neither of their parents had been called upon to leave, their homes, and to them tho medal would be valueless. It would destroy the value of the medal to open tho door so wide. He pointed to the fact also that many of tho records had been lost, and that it would be a matter of considerable cost to make tho searches of such records 11 s existed, and to procure new flies for the (striking of a new medal. Mr. Wright, in supporting his Bid, pointed to the fact that in awarding medals and gratuities in the Great War the only test was whether the soldier had gone overseas on active service. Many recipients of tho medal for this war had never been under ire. He pleaded for generous treatment for those who joined, the colours, whether they were' under fire or not, in the Native if are. Mr. Wright had to bear a good deal of banter about his Bill. Dr. Pomare, for instance, suggested that medals should be given to "both sides." He expressed his doubt anyhow aa to who were the rebels —the whites or the Maoris. He joked about the Parihaka episode also, for it was suggested that tiioeo who wero under arms there should get this medal. He thought the Parihaka volunteers pam themselves quite well for their services— with loot. Indeed, he thought tile men wiio went to Parihaka should have a medal, and :he would like to write the inscription for it!

It was pointed out also by Mr. Hawken, a Tarannki member, and the Minister of Defence (Sir Heaton Rhodes), that the real Maori War veterans, the holders of tho New Zealand medal, wero strongly opposed to Mr. Wright's Bill. After an hour and a half of this it was very - clear that.the Bill could not go through, and Mr. Wright moved' himself to report progress. This motion was agreed to on the voices.

THE STATE BANK Mr. Veitch has had before the House this session a Bill entitled the Dominion State Bank Bill. Tho Bill was read a second time, as is the custom with Bills of private members, without n division, but after the debate Mr, Massey drew Mr. Speaker's attention to tho fact that the Bill was an appropriation Bin, and therefore one which a private member was not competent to more. Mr. Speaker ruled that the Bill was an appropriation measure, and that it could not proceed. llr, Mossey last, night moved that the Bill be discharged from the Order Paper. Contrary to all custom. Mr. Veitch called a division on this motion. The motion was carried bv 35 votes to 23. If was practically a party division, with tho exception that Messrs. Sykes and Marnier voted with Mr. Veitch. Incidentally it may be mentioned that the defeat of the motion would have had no effect. The Bill could not have proceeded.