INDEPENDENCE DAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21844, 5 July 1934, Page 15

INDEPENDENCE DAY

/\ 'AMERICAN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN AUCKLAND SPEECHES AT LUNCHEON • A luncheon in honour of the 158 th * anniversary of the independence of the United States of America was tendered yesterday by Mr. Walter F. Boyle, Consul in Auckland for the United / States, and Mrs. Boyle. The gathering, which was held in (he Milne and Clioyce Reception Hall, was / attended by members of the Consular Corps, representatives of Churches and local bodies <md of the commercial and social life of the city. Throughout, the luncheon an orchestra played American traditional airs. "Cnrrv Me Back to Old Virginny" was sung by,.Mr. A. G. Fogerty, while "The / Star Spangled Banner"' and the British Kational Anthem were played by Mr. Kiji Kurosowa. Following an announcement by Mr. Boyle that, owing to indisposition. the Primate, Archbishop Averill, was unavoidably absent, a blessing was given by Bishop Listen. "I am very happy to greet you once again at this gathering to celebrate tho birthday of my country," said Mrs. >. Bovle. "Although I hail my country's Jlag tvith pe'de. and patriotism, your hold on my affections has a strong foundation, as I can now boast of having lived in Auckland longer than in any other place during my lifetime. It has boen a most plepsant experience. So much so that we have come to feel that tvc have a home in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as in the Northern." World's Economic Ills The Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, ... said, in lighter vein, that since the last Independence Day celebration neither the orthodoxy of Great Britain ✓ nor the heterodoxy of the United States had dissipated the economic difficulties of the two countries. Last year, of many countries, Britain was the one country that her bond, but this year they were attending the celebration with, he might perhaps say, their appetites diilled, because Britain had had to tell the United States to wait for her money. Out of the crisis, however, must come that revelation awaited by a sick world. Was it too much to hope that the leaders of the two countries would soon adopt a unified policy and unified measures that would bring happiness to the people of the world? On behalf of the people of Auckland he extended , felicitations on' the celebration of another Independence Day anniversary. In expressing pleasure that Mr. Boyle had remained 'as consul in Auckland, Mr. Hutchison said: "This is the last occasion on which I shall speak officially at one of these gatherings, and I would like to say Jiow much Mrs. Hutchison and I appreciate the uniform courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Boyle and their kindness shown to lis during my term in office." Lady Gunson said that on behalf of Sir James Gunson, who was absent, she wished to joiii with the Mayor in voicing appreciation of the kindness and courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Boyle. „ 4 World's Sheet Anchor

Mr. -Boyle said lie was quite sure the. economic difficulties of the two countries would be solved. The English-speaking nations, were still' a great sheet anchor to hold the world when on troublous seas. ''To the American who has lived abroad for some time," said Mr. Boyle, "the Fourth of July is still a day of sweltering heat, crashing brass bands, exploding fire crackers and eaglescreaming speeches. He is not far from correct as to the heat and the brass bands, for both/ appear to be holding their own very well. But in recent years the movement for a Fourth of July with a lesser, casualty aftermath, has brought about a lowering of what might be termed the noise level And seeminglv as if in- sympathy witn the muffling" of the, fire cracker, there has come a° change'in our*speeches. "Taking National Bearings"

"More and more we are coming to look on the Fourth as the day on which to t?.ke our national bearings, to give thought to our political, economic, social and moral latitude and longitude. Thus it is that to-day we await a message from the captain who holds the post of honour on the navigating bridge of our ship of . state, telling us from his own reckoning something as to where we are and whither we are bound. . "And although I know not what his words may be, yet I am sure that he will reiterate Jri's oft-repeated message that, builded on the enduring, foundation of that national self-respect which begets international respect, under his guidance the policy of the United States will ever be that of the good neighbour. . ', "This reminds me, if I may turn to the personal side, that you hospitable people of Auckland and New Zealand have been more - than good neighbours to my wife ffnd myself. A debt we hope to pav, at least in part, in love and goodwill. At. this time and in this company it would be as well to recall that our nation began its existence as a British colony."