NATIONAL OCCASION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 72, 27 March 1939, Page 10

NATIONAL OCCASION

GREEKS CELEBRATE

INDEPENDENCE DAY

WELLINGTON OBSERVANCE

Greek recitations and folk dances — all in Greek costume from the age of Pericles .to the present day—were among the features of the celebration by' the Greek community of Wellington last night of the declaration of Greek independence of March 25, 1821. The programme was provided by the Greek children of Wellington, and many favourable comments were made by visitors at the celebrations at the rapid progress of the children in mastering the Greek language. Fcr the last fifteen months the children have been attending for two hours daily a Greek school conducted by Miss L. Ampatzi (in addition to their ordinary schooling), and those who saw last night's display were generous in their tribute to the intelligence 'of the children and the work of their school mistress. The celebrations were held under the auspices of the Pan-Hellenic Association of Wellington, at the Greek Club, Marion Street. Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon (Consul-General for Greece in New Zealand) presided, and among those present were the Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) and Mrs. Fraser, the High Commisisoner for the United Kingdom in New Zealand (Sir Harry Batterbee) and Lady Batterbee, the Consul for Belgium (M. A. Nihotte) and Madame Nihotte, the Vice-Consul for the Netherlands (Mr. M. F. Vigeveno) and Mrs. Vigeveno, a representative of the Italian Consulate, Mr. M. F. Luckie, Deputy Mayor, in the absence of the Mayor, Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, Mrs. Garland, the Rev. D. C. Bates, Mrs. F. Hay, Mrs. Knox Gilmer, Dr. C. G. F. Morice and Miss Morice, and Mr. and Mrs. F. Roffe. . Mr. Seddon spoke of what the day— Independence Day—meant to the Greek nation. The celebration marked the overthrow of Turkish domination, which suppressed the Greeks for nearly four centuries. Mr. S. Garland, Vice-Consul for Greece, traced the struggle for independence from the ruthless oppressors of Greece, and feelingly referred to the centuries of suffering his countrymen had endured. Inspired by the success of the French Revolution, the Greeks secretly armed themselves, and with help from England and France began in 1821 their fight—a fight which was maintained with religious intensity. Mr. Garland referred to the aims and the ideals of the Greeks of today and demonstrated what, progress Greece had made since her liberation. VALUE OF FREEDOM. He expressed the thanks of the association for the visitors coming to what he termed "the Greece of Wellington," and for the interest they had displayed in the Greek children, who were future New Zealanders. The PanHellenic Association wanted the children to know everything about the country of their origin, and to realise what their forefathers had suffered for the sake of liberty. { They also wanted them to appreciate the freedom given by the British flag, and to realise that that freedom meant that they could worship God in their own way and that they could be taught the Greek language and be instructed in the ideals of their forefathers. Mr. Fraser emphasised what the world owed to Greek culture, and referred tj our indebtedness to the Greeks for what they bestowed on civilisation in the way of sculpture, art. literature, athletics, and medicine. He also spoke .with appreciation of the sense of citizenship which the Greeks in New Zealand evinced today. Sir Harry Batterbee expressed his pleasure in meeting so many Greek subjects, and his delight in hearing Greek songs and recitations rendered by the Greek children. Mr. Luckie congratulated the committee on their organisation and commended the Greeks of Wellington for their good citizenship. Mr. A. Janis. chairman of the Greek | school committee, addressed the asi semblage in Greek, and his remarks on the national occasion were received with enthusiasm. His speech was supplemented by Miss Ampatzi, whose address, also in Greek, on the meaning of the day, was loudly acclaimed. Songs were contributed by Mrs. Wilfred Andrews and Signor and Signora Comparini. Miss Ampatzi, who had trained the Greek children, presented a programme of Greek songs and dances and recitations. The children were dressed in national costume, and the items demonstrated the efficiency of their teach-! ing. An orchestra provided an excel-j lent programme of music. Folk dances by the children and adults were of special interest to the visitors, and the evening was one which will be long remembered by the Greek community of Wellington.

An increase of 50 per cent, is noted this year at the night classes at the Wanganui Technical College, states "The Post's" representative, there being 353 students, compared with 227 last year. Of those students 79 are adults, and the number of classes has been increased from 35 to 53.