DOMINION DAY.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 2030, 20 September 1913, Page 4

DOMINION DAY.

We have no doubt Dominion day, B,s an institution, not exactly pleasant recollections for the present Government. It is associated with Sir Joseph Ward, who in announcing in 1907 after a visit to England, tbe country's evolution from a coif ny to a dominion, induced his Government to establish Dominion Day, and keep it as an annual memorial. It was realiv to take the place of Queen Victoria's I Birthday which had not then began to assume the standing of Empire Day, a later creation of the Carl of Meath. Whil® the Ward Government was in office Dominion Day flourished. Eaofa year festivities were held at the capital city ; the troops paraded and reviews were held and social functions were arranged. The idea was to observe the "day a3 a day apart in commemoration of the many advantages we as a young nation unfettered with the shackles of the older countries enjoyed, and also to make it a day of general empire significance in the schools. The

ideal seemed a worthy one, even though it required a little forcing at first. The opponents of Sir Joseph Ward were always amused lookerson. There was a good deal of justification for their attitude, but tboogh the celebrations aud t;<e parade and pan ply may nrt be necessary there geeins no reason why we should not have at least cne national holiday of our own even if others such as Anniversary Day, have to go. U seems a step taken to disparage the Government's predecessors. Any way t*.e Commissioners seem to have taken too mach upon themselves in interfering witb a national holiday and the aspect of their speedy withdrawal in regard to the higher officials is undignified to say the least.