ANZAC DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 126, 30 May 1941, Page 5

ANZAC DAY

ITS REAL MEANING

FUTURE OBSERVANCE

NATIONAL OCCASION

A suggestion that Anzac Day should be regarded as New Zealand's national day, commemorating the sacrifice of all New Zealanders who suffered in the service of the Empire, was well received by the annual conference of the N.Z.R.S.A. last night, but it was agreed that no action should be taken until there had been consultation with the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' League of Australia. Mr. W. E. Leadley (Wellington) said that the future observance of Anzac Day as a national day of commemoration of all those who fell in the service of the Empire should be considered by the association. There appeared to be a lot of confusion as to what Anzac Day really was. Even speakers at Anzac Day services referred only to the*actual landing on Gallipoli, but the R.S.A. idea was that it was the day of commemoration for all who fell in the Great War. The time had now arrived when they should revise the observance of Anzac Day. The men who fought in Greece and Crete would certainly want their day of commemoration. Nothing had given more satisfaction to diggers than the news that New Zealanders and Australians had been joined in Greece as the second Anzac Corps, and the question was: when would the sacrifices of the second Anzacs be commemorated? On Anzac Day or some other day? Because of the origin of the word "Anzac" New Zealand was a partner with Australia in the observance and consequently the Dominion executive had written to the R.S.S.I.L.A. He moved that when a reply was received from Australia it should be sent' to all branches with a request that they consider the matter before the next annual conference. REAL MEANING OF DAY. The president (the Hon. W ( . Perry, M.L.C.) said that he agreed that there was still a widespread impression that Anzac Day applied to the Gallipoli campaign only. The Anzac Day Act was passed to set aside the day "in commemoration of the part taken by New Zealand troops in the Great War and in memory of those who gave their lives for the Empire." Many returned soldiers had come to regard Anzac Day as "Diggers' Day," Mr. Perry said, but it was New Zealand's national day. It was the day when New Zealand achieved nationhood. By a remarkable coincidence the last of the second Anzacs left Greece on Anzac Day, 1941. As they had received their baptism of fire. in Greece it was fitting that Anzac Day should be the national day of commemoration of the Dominion's nationhood, which had been won in 1915 and consolidated in 1941. Mr. Leadley's resolution was carried. AS IN THE PAST. A South Canterbury remit asking that returned soldiers should parade on Anzac Day as returned soldiers and not with units to which they might be attached was rejected, but it was resolved that Anzac Day should be observed as in the past, the manner in which returned men should take part being left to local organisers. The opinion was expressed that Anzac Day was a day for returned soldiers and not for other parades', but this was countered by a delegate pointing out that the majority of those taking part in the commemorative services were from the general public.