DOMINION DAY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 226, 24 September 1907, Page 3

DOMINION DAY.

If as there is some reason for ..assuming we are of the people^who have had greatness thrust upon them, -so much the more cause exists that 'we should bear ourselves with some .outward show of modesty. September 26 is to be appropriately celebrated as Dominion Day. It is true the idea has not been hailed everywhere as an inspiration. There is something to be said for those who object to an extra holiday of this kind, for the majority -do sp on reasonable grounds, and those who can show that such an occasion involves them in a direct pecuniary loss have reasonable cause for dissatisfaction. However, in this connection the attitude of the Ngjv Plymouth Employers' Federation seems timely .ana sufficient to meet the case, and it found expression in a decision to strongly object to any attempt to make Dominion Day a statutory holiday. Sir Joseph Ward's assurance that it is not the intention of the Government to add to the list of public holidays is at least satisfactory. The proclamation of New Zealand s -altered status is not quite on a level with a declaration of independence, or--even from a standpoint of national rejoicing quite equal to a Trafalgar anniversary in possibilities. — Still it will suffice, though the fact remains that New Zealand has become a ■dominion largely because of the paucity of the language, no other word being found suitable^ to express a recognition of her increased import-, ance among the over-sea colonies. However, sufficiently convincing reasons have been advanced for the alteration of the status of the colony, and we think it will be generally allowed that the manner in which it is proposed to mack the direct accomplishment of the change is fitting and proper in its essentials. To New Zealanders the name, lacking all the necessary association, does not and never could mean much or be a source of any special pride, and Canada may well be left in the undisputed possession of a Dominion Day which, compared with what our own feeble imitation of it could only be, would always be as the very substance fo the shadow.—Otago Daily Times.