NATIONAL ANTHEM

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 114, 11 November 1930, Page 8

NATIONAL ANTHEM

(To the Editor.) Sir,—With reference to the letters appearing in "The Post" advocating the adoption of Bracken's song "God Defend New Zealand" as our National Anthem, surely loyal New Zealanders will never agree to such a proposal. Bracken, and others who lived in Otago, tried hard to foist the song on New Zealand as a National Anthem in place of "God Save'the King," but failed. I venture to predict that those who try it on again will also encounter failure. Musical historians tell us that "God Save the King" became widely known during the Scottish Rebellion in 1745, and was sung nightly at Drury Lane and Covent Garden, and greeted with "tremendous applause." Our worthy Mayor, Mr. Troup, is a loyalist to the backbone, and when meetings are held in the Town Hall the Union Jack invariably covers the chairman's table. I am sure that Mr Troup will never sanction the playing or singing of a New Zealand National Anthem when that makes no reference to His Majesty the King. New Zealanders rise en masse—men, women, and children —when the first bars of "God Save the King" .are played anywhere in the Dominion, and they do it with more reverence than any other part of the world that I have been in. Bracken's song would never command anything like the same respect and attention from the people if substituted. No, Sir, let us hold fast to the most celebrated and most glorious National 4nthem in the world—"God Save the King."-! am, etc., ■