The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1907. A SCREAMING FARCE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 224, 21 September 1907, Page 4

The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1907. A SCREAMING FARCE.

Dominion Day, to be, celebrated next Thursday, is likely to be made the occasion for the display of a lot of childish nonsense and tomfoolery in official circles. There is nothing in this mere change of our official title from Colony to Dominion to warrant going into hysterics over it. The thing might have been quietly done by Gazette notice, and without unnecessary fuss or display. Yet the Government arid officialdom generally seem bent upon making themselves ridiculous by holding high holiday upon the occasion. There are to be military dispia-ys, and gatherings of school children, the juveniles being treated to long speeches, which they don't want, and regaled with refreshments, solid and liquid, which they are not known to have any aversion to. 'Flags will fly, the band will play, And Johnny will make high holiday," says an old jingling rhyme, and it just about fits the situation. But "Cvi Bono?" asks our Wellington correspondent, and even the Celestial who laundries the linen for the outer barbarian, has been heard to ejaculate "Wha for?" But while officialdom is generally losing its head, and becoming a laughing stock to the outside world, it is noteworthy that the great mass of the people look with aversion upon the unnecessary and uncalled, for jubilation. All New Zealand press reports show that public opinion is dead against making holiday upon the occasion. Further, there is still greater opposition to the idea of making a permanent holiday to mark the event. It is only in Little Peddlington that the example being set in gubernatorial quarters is being sycophantishly followed. In towns of | any importance the whole thing is bej ing laughed, to scorn by hard-neaded sensible men. Blenheim is not likely to lose its head upon the occasion. Officially there will be a holiday, but it is open to question whether that holiday will be observed by the business community. Sensible people are realising that we have far too many holidays already, and this very inclination to "run away and play" upon the slightest incentive, which nas hitherto been manifested, is scarcely in keeping with the calm dignity that might be expected to mark the fully grown-up status to which we have now attained as a Dominion. On the contrary, it is indicative of the irresponsible demeanour of those still in the i Knickerbocker stage of existence. |