A COMMON BOND.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 January 1928, Page 2

A COMMON BOND.

INTERESTING CEREMONY. FLAG FROM HASTINGS. LONDON, Nov. 5, Last Friday Hie High Commissioner for Now Zealand paid a hurried visit ito Hastings to present to the County Borough Education Authorities a New Zealand flag on behalf of the Borough of Hastings, New Zealand, writes the London correspondent of the Wellington “Evening Post.” In 1908 a Union Jack was presented to the Hasting Education Authorities by the New Zealand town of the same name, and this flag has been regularly competed for quarterly by the various schools on an average attendance basis. Recently, however, owing to a redivision of the educational district, the senior schools became excluded, from the competition; and, at the suggestion of Mr J. R. Ivirk (Gisborne, who was in Elnglaud during the Wembley Exhibition period), the Hastings (N.Z.) Borough Council sent a New Zealand flag which is to be adopted for competition amongst the. senior schools. it was to ii re sent, this flag that the High Commissioner went to Hastings. Sir J ames Parr was welcomed by the Mayor (Alderman Dymond) and the Mayoress, also by Alderman Mitchell (chairman of the Education Committee) . A number of prominent educationists of the town and the City Aldermen were present. The High Commissioner was entertained at afternoon tea; and then in the Council Room, Alderman Mitchell briefly explained the circumstances of uhe presentation, stating incidentally that the' first flag presented to the Hasting.® Schools had proved a great inceptive to keeping up the attendances. LINR IN EMPIRE CHAIN. Sir James Parr, in expressing his thanks for the welcime accorded him, said he -appreciated this as a great compliment not only to hint as the representative of the Doiamion of New Zealand, but as a gesture of goodwill to the youngest of the Dominion. States. He was visiting Hastings at the request of an important municipal body in New Zealand, namely, the Corporation and Borough, of Hastings, in Hawke’s Bay. The Borough of Hastings was the centre of one of the richest and most progressive agricultural and pastoral districts of the Dominion, with a population of some 16,000 people; it was regarded as one of the most progressive boroughs of New Zealand. He compared its comparative youth with Hastings in England—one of the oldest of the English boroughs. The greeting had been asnt by a young community to one of the old historic parts of the Empire, and it was in that spirit that he gave into their hands the flag from his country. New Zealanders were intensely patriotic, and they were not afraid to express their patriotism. A test came upon the country in 1914, and the country had replied by sending overseas 100,000 of the best of its men, 20,000 of whom had been left behind in graves on foreign soil. He mentioned this as proof that he spoke for a community which wag very patriotic, and which could -be trusted to do its best to' maintain the intergrity of the Empire and all for which it stood. He was glad to know that the two -flags were being used a® incentives to punctuality, because this was of great importance. “May this little ceremony,” said Sir James in conclusion, “he yet one more link in the chain which binds the children overseas to the 'Motherland, which we all still look upon as home.” The High Commissioner then handed over the flag to Alderman, Mitchell. Sir James was cordially thanked by both the Mayor and Alderman Mitchell.