ANZAC DAY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 226, 21 June 1935, Page 6

ANZAC DAY

Committee’s Proposal Rejected CHARACTER RETAINED A proposal that Auzac Day should be observed henceforth as a statutory holiday was rejected by an overwhelming majority at last night’s conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association. Members of the conference took the view that Anzac Day should be kept a sacred day of remembrance. as suggested in a remit sub mitted by the Matamata branch of the association. Reporting on the Matamata remit, the defence and Anzac Day committee substituted the following for the adop tion of the conference: “That the Anzac Day Act be amended so that April 25 in each year be a day of commemoration of all who fell in the Great War, and that it be observed henceforth as a statutory holiday.” In moving the adoption of the recommendation of the committee, the Hon. W. Perry. U.L.C. said the committee was not unanimous, but the majority considered Anzac Day should not be a day of sorrow but a day of commemora tion. It was in some respects a glorious day because it marked the birth of New Zealand as a nation. A Sacred Day. Mr. G. G. Griffiths (Matamata) moved by way of amendment the original remit submitted by the Matamata branch, that Anzac Day should be observed as a sacred day of remembrance as hitherto. The Rev. J. M. Stewart (South Canterbury), who seconded the amendment, said he hoped that Anzac Day would ever be observed as a day of remembrance. Mr. D. McMahon (Te Arolia) said he hoped the conference would make it clear that Anzac Day must not be changed. Mr. IL L. Paterson (Otago) said that if the motion were carried he failed to see how it would be possible to have a commemoration day and a statutory day as well. He appealed for the retention of Anzac Day on the Statute Book as a sacred day. “I cannot help thinking that the proposal brought down by the committee will be something of a shock, not only to returned soldiers, but to the general public,” said Mr. W. E. Leadley (Canterbury). His own opinion was that Anzac Day would ultimately disappear, and that it would be observed on the nearest Sunday, but at the same time they should hang on to Anzac Day as a day of remembrance as long as they possibly could. He was sure the committee’s proposal would arouse the deepest resentment. Reply to Discussion. Replying to the debate, Mr. Perry said that although the committee came to the conclusion that Anzac Day should be observed as a statutory holi day, it was also Of opinion that the day should be one of commemoration. Even if the day were a statutory holiday, as it was all over Australia, the services of remembrance would still be held. Members': They would die out. Mr. Perry: Why should there be any change? They would still be held just the same. The Matamata amendment was then carried amid loud applause. The support accorded the committee’s report was practically negligible. The Dominion executive was also asked in another remit to interview the Postmaster-General, urging that a special Anzac commemorative stamp or set of stamps be issued on. terms to be arranged, the increased value of the stamps to be applied to the relief of distress among returned soldiers, the issue to be on sale during April, 1936