EMPIRE DAY AT HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20882, 26 May 1931, Page 9

EMPIRE DAY AT HOME.

MR. MacDONALD'S SPEECH.

MESSAGE TO THE NATIONS.

HYDE PARK DEMONSTRATION. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, May '24. In an Empire Day speech broadcast from Lossiemouth, Scotland, tho Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, said: — " Tho British Empire is proving that it possesses genius in responding to the needs of the changing times and in indicating how, without sacrifice of pride, freedom or independent nationhood, it is possibles to live, and work together as members of a world organisation. It is thereby demonstrating to the world how solutions can bo found for some of the pressing problems of the day, including tho necessity for tho realisation of a sane spirit of frank trustfulness and mutual help, in which the countries must not fail, owing to the ever-increasing capacity for destruction." Mr. Mac Donald referred to the historic Imperial Round-table Conference over which he had presided, and added, regarding India, that the clock could not go back or pause. The Empire's expansion must moro and more be an expansion of constitutional liberty, finding new forms of expression. The Empire Day celebrations included a big demonstration in Hyde Park, at which tho massed bands of the Brigado of Guards and a special choir .led in community singing. Tho numbers sung included Sir Edward Elgar's " Land of Hope and Glory," which tho composer conducted.

A movement, headed by the Duke of Connaught, is on foot to erect a memorial window in St. Paul's Cathedral and a memorial in Ilyde Park as a tribute to the founder of Empire Day, Lord Meath.

SYDNEY GATHERING. NOTEWORTHY SPEECHES. 5000 PEOPLE ATTEND. (Received May 23, 9.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. May 25. An Empire Day demonstration at which 5000 people were present was held in Martin Place, Sydney, to day. The Governor of New South Wales, Sir Philip Gamo, and representative citizens delivered noteworthy speeches. All emphasised tho need to combat pernicious influences which tend toward disintegration.