THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 252, 21 September 1933, Page 6

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —As a listener-in who is not interested in the discussion which occasionally “rears its head” in. Palmerston North as to the merits of the two local broadcasting stations a discussion whch is, to say the least of it, infantile —I would like to say a word in praise of 2YA station in Wellington for the note of patriotism it sounds, before commencing to broadcast its programmes. The Wellington station never omits the National Anthem in commencing operations at 8 p.m., and for this desirable procedure the management is worthy of the highest praise. There is too great a tendency in this socialistic age for a section of the people in the Britsli Empire to forget what the Anthem stands for, and the marked disrespect shown by a few of them in leaving public buildings while it is being played cannot be too strongly condemned. When we remember the grea.t liberties enjoyed by people over whom the Union Jack waves —a striking contrast to the bondage in which people are held in Russia—one would imagine that appreciation of these liberties would be shown on every possible occasion, and pride and gratification would be expressed in a fitting manner in the fact that the Empire possesses a King and Constitution that are the envy of millions of foreigners. I quite admit that this lack of respect to which I have referred is shown by people who are infinitesimal in numbers, but unfortunately there are children growing up in whom the seeds of disloyalty are already apparent due to lack of training and ignorance on the part of their parents. For the reasons stated above I consider a meed of praise is due to 2YA for giving us this nightly reminder of the debt of gratitude we owe to our King and Constitution, and I would go further and say that the broadcasting conditions should be amended by the Government to compel all stations in New Zealand to include the National Anthem in their programmes. Any station management which shows a disinclination to comply with this condition to have its license cancelled immediately. I have heard statements to the effect that some of the B stations in New Zealand are remiss in having tlie Anthem played, and the quicker an alteration for the better is made the sooner will the comment end. All honour to the YA stations for their patriotic tendencies which have earned the respect and esteem of loyalists in all parts of the Dominion. —Yours, etc., LISTENER-IN.