EMPIRE DAY.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 38, Issue 966, 29 May 1908, Page 4

EMPIRE DAY.

On Monday Empire Day was not generally observed as a holiday in the town. The flags on the'"public buildings were hoisted, and a few of the public assembled at the school to see the scholars salute the flag and hear the speeches made to them. The scholars were assembled] by the headmaster in front of the school, the organ taken outside, and, accompanied by Miss Thomson, they sang a song composed for the occasion and publish ed in last month's school magazine, entitled The Flag of Britain. Mr Calder, chairman bf committee, then made a few remarks. He explained the object of Empire Day/and referred to its connection with the late Queen Victoria. Not very long ago troops were sent from New Zealand to South Africa to take part in the Boer War, That was.on account of patriotism. It was to instil feelings of patriotism into them that they were there that day. It was their duty to learn to uphold the flag. His Worship the Mayor, Mr.Kirk, said that most of them hud read of the Crimean War, and of the part Miss Nightingale had taken in it. The soldiers went there to uphold the flag,and she wont to help them in their work., The good done in the past would have, one to be continued by the. children of to day. Above the Empire floated the Union Jack. * The British Empire always stood for what they considered to be justice, good government, freedom and Chrisitanity. On the flag was red; they niust be prepared to dye it a deeper red with their blood if necessary. The white was emblematic of purity. The Empire must bo kept pure. When they looked at the flag they should remember what had been done by thenoble men and women feefore them, and it should inspire them to resist any 'mean or ignoble action,or anything, that would tarnish the flag After the flag had been saluted, a verse of the National Anthem was sung, and the gathering dispersed, the children being giyen a holiday..