NO INSULT INTENDED

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 67, 19 March 1924, Page 6

NO INSULT INTENDED

NATIONAL. ANTHEM INCIDENT AT EUNANGA.

_ A reply to the newspaper report of the incident at the Ruuanga Convent School, in which it was alleged the authorities reiused the children permission to sine the National Anthem during the visit of tne Governor-General, in conseouonce of which His Excellency declined to go near the school, has been made by Mr. George Miller on behalf of the sisters, says the Greymouth correspondent of the "Lyttelton Times." ,

t "T h T J7? 1)0rt of the sieged insult to Lord .leJhcoe by the omission of the National Anthem from the programme at the Punianga Convent School is not strictly correct," he saws, "and would convey the impression that the National Antnam was omitted from the programme of welcome for the express purpose of insulting the Governor-General or because the authorities of this school would not permit ih e inclusion of the National Anthem.

"Ihe reason as stated to me by the sister in charge, was that they had a vei-y -large percentage of vonitg childron at the school, and the' programme ■A Sung of Welcome' and 'God Defend New Zealand' had been assiduously rehearsed for a week in anticipation of the visit of His Excellency. Had they known that ttu> National Anthem imis't be included it w<}ulc! lmvu been as well IH-upared as the other musical items and they feared that pulling on the Aiilhcm at live mjmitos' notice might restilt iv an imperfect rendering by the little tots, which would be a greater insult thai) the omission. .The sisters were not aware that tin* Governor-General was oil ended at hw previous official visit, and regret tliaf^ey and the children were aepnved ol the pleasure of seeing him mi this occasion through any misunderstanding. The Runnnga Convent is governed by the surae authority as the .Grey Convent."-