ARMISTICE DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20713, 5 November 1930, Page 12

ARMISTICE DAY.

CEREMONY AT CENOTAPH. CHILDREN TO TAKE PART. THE TWO MINUTES' SILENCE. Arrangements for the ceremony to be held at the Cenotaph in front of the War Memorial Museum on Armistice Day, November 11, have now been practically completed by the executive of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association. A feature of this year's service will be the participation of children representative of tho schools of the city and suburbs. The schools have already been circularised with the suggestion that two children be selected from each school to attend the ceremony on Armistice Day an lav wreaths at the foot of the Cenotaph. So far 14 schools have replied agreeing to take part, and it is expected that before the end of the week a great many more will express their willingness to be represented. It is hoped to make tho participation of tho children an annual feature of the ceremony. . - r> On the morning of Armistice Day 1 is proposed to keep tho Court of Honour at the Cenotaph clear except -Tor the children and the band which will play tho hymns included in tho programme. Tho returned soldiers and members of tho general public taking part will bo admitted to the steps in front of the Museum and the immediate precincts of tho Court of Honour. Tho arrangements are that tho children shall bo assembled not later than 10.40 a.m., and at 10.54 the band will play the 'National Anthem, followed by the hymn, " Nearor, My God, to Hiee. At 11 a.m., the two minutes silence, to be signalised by the firing of a gun at Albert Park, will bo observed. The children and representatives of the Returned Soldiers' Association will then place their wreaths at tho base of tho Cenotaph, and after this representatives of other organisations and members of tho public who desire to deposit wreaths will bo given an opportunity to do so. Ihe hymn "Abide With Me" will be played by the band and the sounding of " The Last Tost " and tho " Reveille " by a bugler will bring the ceremony to a close. Armistice Day is not a public holiday, but tho public is asked to observe tho two minutes silence. The appeal for tho paying of thi-s mark of respect issued by Hi's Majesty the King some days ago asks that all vehicular traffic, with tho exception of rail and water transport, bo suspended for tho two minutes following the firing of tho gun. A special request is made to motorists to shut off tho engines of their cars while they aro at a standstill observing tho silence. A public meeting will be hold in the Town Hall Concert Chamber under the auspices of the Auckland branch of the League of Nations Union next Sunday in connection with Armistice Day, The meeting, lasting about one hour, will commence at 3 p.m. and in addition to an address by the chairman, Sir George Fowlds, short speeches will be given by general representative citizens.