EMPIRE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 4, 5 July 1910, Page 5

EMPIRE DAY.

WHEN SHOULD IT BE OBSERVED?

"That the King's Birthday be celebrated as Empire Day," was a remit before the Municipal Conference yesiJerday afternoon. A Cnristchurch delegate was sponsor, and thought that some finality should be brought about in this matter. Through the mourning occasioned by the death of King Edward, there was some misunderstanding as to whether the holiday was to be observed or not. He thought the conference should give an expression of opinion on the matter. A Dunedin delegate did not think the conference would be wise in committing itself. As Empire Day was celebrated on the same day all over the Empire, New Zealand should fall into line. A CanterDury delegate oaid it was the opinion of some local bodies in that province that Empire Day should always be observed on <S4th May, Queen Victoria's birthday. They wanted to keep that day as Empire Day, Dut if there was an alteration made, it should be one to bo conformed to by all parts of the Empire. "People are holiday mad !" was another expression, following on a reference to the absurdity of' three public holidays within four weeks— -24th May (Empire Day), ord June (King's Birthday), and 4th June (Prince of Wales' Birthday). The public could not stand it. The Government should take the matter up and settle it once and for all. These important events should be honoured, but not to the inconvenience of the public business. It was also pointed out that in Capetown the Government offices closed for Empires Day, but the town workers did not get a holiday. So that theie would not be any conflict when arbitration awards were being made, a delegate thought the conference should give a definite opinion on the matter. The motion, however, vvas lost.

•In the Unitarian Church, Ingestveslreet, to-morrow evening, Mr. Joseph M'Cabo will give a free lecture on "The Evolution of the Social Position of Women."