The Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1924. THE KING'S BIRTHDAY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIV, Issue XLIV, 3 June 1924, Page 4

The Star.

TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1924. THE KING'S BIRTHDAY.

Delivered every evening Dy 5 o'clock in Hswera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, El&ain, Hangatoki, Kapooga, Aw&tuna, Opuetke, Otakeno, Blanutsfai, Alton, BurleyviSle, Pates, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamaca, Ohangai, Meremera, Fraser Road, sod Ararate.

To-day His Majesty King George V. celebrates his jfi^ty-nurLh biyjhday. For fourteen years he has been King of the British Empire, y&arjS .crammed full of great events, dflfcriug which many very important ehaug&s have tatoeft place.

In Europe several cosiiatries have swept away their kings, e^ij^erprs, and royal families, and adopted the r.epjajbliean

form of government. No one is surprised at the overthrow of the Tsar ai»d the forced abdication of the Kaiser, for both had permitted great sufferings to be brought upon the people, who were governed by rigorous and in many cases inhuman methods by the bureaucrats. The rulers on the Continent were guilty of many crimes against mankind, and when they were deposed the people living in the democratic countries hoped that the end of a bad era had been reached. But in the British Empire there was an entirely different feeling towards the King and the Boyal Family, who had taken a very active part in the war and by their attitude towards the masses had shown how intensely sympathetic they were and how the sufferings of the people were in a real sense their sufferings. As the war proceeded the affection of the people of all parts of the British Empire towards the King and the Royal Family increased, and on November 11, 1918, the masses in London hastened to Buckingham Palace and there expressed their devotion and loyalty to the Throne. Throughout the Empire the people expressed their loyalty, and on so many occasions since the Armistice was signed has the love of the people for the King and the Eoyal Family been shown that it is true to say that no ruler has ever enjoyed to a greater degree the devotion of so many millions of people. While the majority of nations have adopted the republican form of government the British Empire retains its democratic Monarchy, and the system is the most practical for the great nation, which, scattered over the world, is united by the bonds of loyalty and devotion to its King. To the great majority ef British citizens the Union Jack and the King are sufficient to give expression to their belief in the principles upon which the Empire stands. Under Tsars and Kaisers the individual did not enjoy that freedom and justice so dear to the British citizen, but under the democratic Monarchy the British citizen has the greatest freedom and privileges of citizenship. The head of the nation is a true democrat, as shown, by his attitude towards the people, and we believe that it is to the person of King George as much as to the Throne that the remarkable loyalty is displayed. Writers have stated that the King is a busy man and that the duties which he personally attends to every day involve much thought and many hours of work. He is indeed an example to the Empire's citizens— most keen that the Empire shall prosper and that its people shall live in peace and happiness. The best insurance for peace and happiness is to maintain a united and loyal Empire, for if the various parts of the Empire remain united and loyal to the British traditions no nation will ever be able to defeat it. In their common loyalty to the King the citizens of the Empire are united in spirit, and they no doubt realise that to maintain the privileges and rights of citizenship.