The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, APRIL 24th, 1923. AFTER EIGHT YEARS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, APRIL 24th, 1923. AFTER EIGHT YEARS.

There is a space of eight years since .Anzac Day was first instituted. Those of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who participated in that dire event would not have given a thought at the time for the history thev were individually and collectively making. Yet, from the 25th., April 1915, Australia and New Zealand have ranked as nations worthy to he regarded as integral parts of the great Empire to the assistance of which they sprang to arms at the simple call of duty. Front that great day the Aliases became great soldiers of the Emipire. They were drafted to evei.v freut where war waged. They ni'ed with distinction on every field tier were engaged in. They proved tr Inborn soldiers. Discipline, as the average English soldier knew it, -I d noter mo readily to the Anzaes. They

lacked the polish oa parade, but they had the finish in action. Eel ore l ipl t foil on the first Anzac Day their reeds were being cabled to every quarter cl the Empire. It was an inspiring Message, praising the men for their gnat feat against an entrenched enemy. The (list finsh of the news told of the intrepidity of the lighting Amzj.;- ; ol their stubbornness to take and tr 1 old the difficult point they were sit to operate over. It was later when Owe was news ef the cost of the ‘ask, and we know that New Zealand paid itiaily m the price of her young nr,aimed for the favor and the honor wen. On other hattletields the pifte continued to he paid till tluee years and a half later, peace was proclaimed. Anzac Day litis now become the In Memorial!! Day for the New Zealand I. lien in the (ironl War. The country can well afford to pay lids recurring u ionic to those wlm fell in the war to end war. The toll was very great, and it is fitting that out of respect for the dead, the looms, ami mills and mines, e.f New Zealand should he idle for the day. as silent, 1 respect fill tribute to the memory of all those who gave their lives that the world might he saved from a ruthless tyrant. The war is long past. I*ut. the healing hand of time !■ is not yet assuaged the grot" o! tlmse who lost loved ones. They Hirst he tememheierl to-morrow in respectful sympathy and all regarded with kindly feelings for wlmt the supreme sacrifice meant to many a household. Time is rolling on and that better wen Id w liirli all hoped for, is not visible

yet. It is too niueli to expect the world to he reformed by one vast s'.voop of reformation. Character is far too complex for that. It. is best to look within. To begin reform there, and h t. the action work outwniilly Id. it. spreath ",crld-v it>>. The national well-being is the fust essential reform, and if our ow n eountry proceeds in that direction, its intlneme and |ietige will tarry other until ns with it. So we must think nationally anil not individually. Wo- must regaitl private interests as secondary to the public weal. Our country must come first. The war period showed how the Empire eoiiid heroine unified in its action f 1 a eeii; molt purpose. As gr-.-at a purpose mu he visioned now in ] ea"o time, and it would he well to unity ml ion in the direction of attaining it. Man's inhumanity to mail, makes countless millions mourn, sa.d the greatest poet ef Scotland long years ago, and the war brought that conclusion home to tin- world at large. There is occasion then to he human. To

lie human vc mils! lv> true citizen-, having for our < bjeel the betto:incut of our country. Progress and advancement will not come from destructive criticism intended to create divisions. Rediscover the sense of national unity which was the nation’s defence and bulwark in the Great War. anil rebuild our eountiy with the s.imo object we have in mind the exclusion of the dominating and ruthless tyrant. The conditions of life, perhaps, trend in another direction, hut as the King said when lie returned from one ol his oversea missions, we must think Imperially. The mutual services rluue 111 the war are perhaps readily forgotten, hut it was bv that means the war

was won. Let us continue those mutual services in a spirit of goodwill, arid carry on in the same devoted attention to duty as did those gallants who passed from us on the first Anzac Day. In imitating their work they will mu, have died in vain.