EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15003, 27 May 1912, Page 7

EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATIONS

PATRIOTIC GATHERINGS. By Telegraph.— Association.— Copyright. \ -London, May 24. Five and a-qtjabter million school children in the United Kingdom and four and a-quarter in the Dominions celebrated Empire Day. Lord Meath (President of the Empire Association) and the Lord Mayor of London addressed large gatherings at the Guildhall. All members ;of the\ Stock Exchange assembled and sang the National Anthem. . Processions -were held and speeches delivered in many, towns and villages. The Times published a 48-page Empire supplement, chiefly Canadian,'but also dealing with Australian defence and life in New Zealand.

A MISUSED WORD.

SO-CALLED "MILITARISM." Ottawa, May 24. The Duke of Counaught, Gover-nor-General of Canada, addressing the school cadets in the Empire Day Celebration at Toronto, said, " Sometimes -we hear foolish remarks Concerning militarism. Militarism really means the subordination of the laws and organisations of a country tO military law and discipline. This is not so in- Canada, and never will be. There is no militarism in teaching discipline to enable youths to carry out their primary duties of citizenship. ___________.____». SCHOOLS' RIFLE MATCH. TWO AUCKLAND SUCCESSES. (Received May 27. 12.25 a.m.) London, March 26. Following are the results of the Empire rifle match open to senior schools: — Durban High School, first, 496. Melbourne High School, fourth, 495. . Palmerston North, sixth, 485. St. Peter's, Adelaide, seventh, 485. Following are the results of the junior schools' match : — Wellington College, England, first, Auckland Grammar School, second, 455. King's College, Auckland, fifth, 430.

AUSTRALIANS FIRST. AN ANTI-EMPIRE SPEECH. Sydney, May 25. Father O'Reilly, president of the St. Stanislaus College, at Bathurst, in an Australia Day speech, said that he did not believe in Empire Day, because it was tho avatar of the jingo spirit in the Old Country. Young Australia had good reason to hate Imperialism. Australians were deficient in patriotism only because they were taught to look to England for everything, yet the interests were often conflicting. In the conflict they must be Australians first.

AUSTRALIAN CELEBRATIONS. GENERAL AND ENTHUSIASTIC. Sydney, May 25. Empire Day celebrations were general and enthusiastic in Tasmania, South Australia, and West Australia.