EMPIRE DAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22117, 24 May 1935, Page 12

EMPIRE DAY

AUCKLAND OBSERVANCE

ALBERT PARK CEREMONY LORD JELLICOE'S MESSAGE Empire Day, commemorating the birthday of Queen Victoria and signifying the growth of the British Empire during and since her reign, will be observed to-day in all British countries. In Auckland there will be a short ceremony at 12.15 p.m. at the statue of Queen Victoria in Albert Park, and in the evening an Empire Day dinner will be held at the Hotel Cargen. The ceremony at Albert Park has been organised by the Victoria League, apd representatives of other patriotic societies in the city will also take part. The president of the league, Miss J. A. Mowbray, will place a wreath at the base of the statue, while other wreaths will be deposited on behalf of the King's Empire Veterans and the British Legion.

During the ceremony an Empire Day message from Lord Jellicoe, a former Governor-General of New Zealand, and president of the Empire Day movement, will be read by Mr. H. J. Wernham, chairman of the central committee of the patriotic societies of Auckland. In his message, Lord Jellicoe refers to the association this year between Empire Day and the silver jubilee* of the accession to the Throne of His Majesty the King, leading many to recall the momentous events of the past 25 years. "First and foremost," Lord Jellicoe says, "will be the realisation that the different portions of our Empire are bound together in the persons of Their Majesties and the Royal Family, so manv members of which have visited all parts of tho Empire and have been welcomed everywhere with enthusiastic lovalty. The courageous manner in which the Empire faced most difficult years of depression will also be recalled with pride and satisfaction." Lord Jellicoe refers to the improvement in Empire communications, both by air and wireless, and says the natural effect should be a closer knitting together of the Empire, a strengthened unity and a keener sense of comradeship. He expresses the hope that present difficulties may soon be overcome, and that the Empire may be kept as the outstanding influence for peace and security that it has been in the past. In addition to the ceremony at Albert Park, Miss Mowbray, on behalf of the Victoria league, will place a wreath on the Maori war memorial at the intersection of Symonds Street and Wakefield Street. > < The Empire Day dinner this evening has been arranged by the Auckland branch of the Royal Empire Society, in co-operation with the central committee of Auckland patriotic societies. There will be about 150 guests, including Sir Alexander Young, representing the Government, and representatives of the services.