MAGNA CARTA DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 139, 16 June 1927, Page 7

MAGNA CARTA DAY

On 15th June, 1215, Magna Carta— that great landmark in British; historywas signed by ; the reluctant King John at Runnymede, near London., This great event was suitably commemorated at Wellington Girls' College in a Magna carta celebration, which took the form, of a programme of gongs, recitations, and speeches appropriate to the occasion. Miss Greig explained what a glorious heritage New Zealanders possessed in the principles of British justice and freedom. Mrs. Ray Brown gave a spirited rendering of "Land of Hope and Glory." Mrs. John Hannah recited "Runnymede" (Kipling) and "The Heritage" (Kipling). The school choir sang, "There's a Land," and "Heroes of Old."

The principal speaker of the afternoon was Mr. A. R. Atkinson, who mentioned that the Magna/Carter was intensely practical, and concrete. In this respect it compared favourably with the Declaration of American Independence and the French Declaration of the' Rights of Man. The Carta was drawn up by people who had suffered from the injustice and oppression of a wicked.king. Mr. Atkinson also pointed out that the pith of the Charter lay in the fact that it placed for the very first time the English law above the King, -and therefore can be considered the beginning of English history. In conclusion the speaker pointed out that New Zealanders also, had a heritage in the Charter—it protected us in New Zealand as well as the people in England. ■