LOCAL CELEBRATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 21, 26 January 1943, Page 4

LOCAL CELEBRATION

MESSAGE FROM MR. .CURTIN

Australia Day was commemorated today at a special luncheon arranged by the Wellington branch of the A.I.F Association, at which the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) and Mrs. Fraser were guests of honour. Wives and friends of membsrs were also present as guests, and the dining-room was decorated with sprays of gum leaves surmounted by koala bears. Today is the 155 th anniversary of the founding of the first British settlement in Australia by Captain Arthur Phillip, who hoisted the flag at Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788. The following special message was ! read from the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr. Curtin): I convey to all members of the A.LF. Association in New Zealand the most cordial good wishes from their fellow-Australians. The day we celebrate is truly a day of great sigj nificance because future celebrations of it depend on our ability to hold off the aggressor. The tradition \vhich your members established in the first A.I.F. in giving to the | world, along with their New Zear | land fighting comrades, the word Anzac. is undying." Every good wish i to you all from the Government and j people of Australia. The president of the association. Mr. H. Richards, presided, and formally welcomed the guests. A SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE. The address was given by the Rev. Dr. E. N. Merrington, who was attached to the Australian Light Horse Brigade, and who was senior chaplain at Gallipoli. "The celebration of Australia's foundation day at the height of the Pacific war has a special significance." said Dr. Merrington. "The growth of Australia during the past 155 years from a mere toehold to the conquest of a continent is one of the marvels of history. The struggles of the Australians against the forces oi Nature, drought, flood, and deserts in many places, have proved the mettle of the young people of the nation." The importance of co-operation between Australia and New Zealand was emphasised by the speaker, who referred to the effect 9! war in bringing about the present high degree of collaboration. The term Australasia, which had been used in the past to