The Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1939. Anzac Day

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 96, 26 April 1939, Page 4

The Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1939. Anzac Day

Anzac Day is New Zealand’s own day—the only one not handed down from the Homeland, and the only one that New Zealanders universally keep. The provincial anniversaries are kept on various dates throughout the Dominion and so lose national significance. Christmas, New Year, Easter, the Saints’ days and the Sovereigns’ birthdays all are for the Empire as a whole. Anzac Day is for ourselves—and for Australia—alone. Yesterday, April 25, saw kept the 24th anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli. The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps were there, together and from the initials thereof was coined the word ANZAC. Troops from these young off-shoots of old England had previously answered the call in the Boer War, but no date commemorates that campaign. The landing at Gallipoli is commemorated not so much for its own significance as for that to which it was a beginning. This day is held in remembrance for all that our soldiers did in the Great War, whether at Anzac or in Flanders.

Here is commemorated high courage, loyalty to King and country, and, finally, the great loss suffered by so many families. At Gallipoli New Zealanders first faced modern warfare and there they proved themselves under a furnace test. In a sense the landing is to be viewed as New Zealand’s coming-of-age. There a young nation attained manhood. For several various reasons, therefore, this day is kept and is to be kept down through generations yet unborn. It is right and proper that the national memory should be refreshed. For this purpose it is essential that a day be set apart from all others. A mere record in a history book, or upon a tablet of stone, or even the erection of a monument—these are not enough. Officially, Anzac Day is a Sunday—in the strictest sense a sacred day. In this lax age the presence of an added Sunday in the year may be irksome to a large proportion of citizens. But there are so many with sad memories who feel that a pure holiday spirit would be sacrilegious on this day. And of a like mind are many more thoughtful citizens who view Anzac Day as a day to be remembered in a spirit of deep patriotism. With such a spirit festival day is not in keeping. The fact must be faced that a clash of opinion is present and that this is growing. This is unfortunate, but nevertheless it is here. Perhaps a compromise might satisfy all parties. Such was seen in Sydney at the great sesqui-centenary muster last year. The day started with a dawn parade of Anzacs representing Australian and New Zealand units. The ceremonial continued till noon. “The Day” was well and faithfully kept by all. The afternoon and evening was kept in festival spirit. - All who took part speak highly of such an arrangement. On every count it is to be desired that Anzac Day be maintained to be handed on to our children and their children to come. But whether a whole day as a Sunday will best serve this end is a problem. There are many sides to be considered and no hasty judgment is required. But there is evident a drift and this calls for thought, and, finally, sonic .action that it may be arrested.