YOUTH OF NORWAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24277, 19 May 1942, Page 4

YOUTH OF NORWAY

LOVE FOR CONSTITUTION

[INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE LONDON, May 17 King Haakon has sent a_ personal message to his people in Norway on the occasion of the Norwegian Independence Day to-day. 4 , "At home and abroad," he said, we proudly commemorate May 17 in our Hearts and thoughts. To-day it is our own generation who have taken up the fight "for freedom and independence. You at home and we abroad share the game unshakable faith that righteousness and justice must prevail in the end." . , King Haakon added that national eolidarity had never been more firmlv welded than to-day, and they greeted each other with the conviction that the May 17 spirit would give them real - power to fight on to the end. He looked . forward to the day. when the youth of Norway could rejoice once more because their love for the constitution stood r undefeated. .: ' i The Norwegian independence rally held in London was addressed by Mr. A. V. Alexander, First Lord of the Admiraltv, and by the Norwegian Foreign Minister., Mr. Alexander reminded his listeners that the day commemorated one of the earliest liberal constitutions of Continental Europe. That constitution was still the basis of (the liberal institutions of Norway, which were "transplanted temporarily to these islands and will return again to the soil of the Norwegian homeland." Mr. Alexander added that the Norwegian fleet now numbered 63 ships, ' including destroyers, corvettes, mine- " sweepers and torpedo boats, manned by 4000 officers and men. About four-fifths of the Norwegian merchant fleet, totalling 5,000,000 tons iri 1940, successfully evaded the Germans and came under the Norwegian Government's control in Britain. Seamen were continually escaping to Britain. The Norwegian Foreign Minister eaid Norwegians at home for the time, being were bearing the brunt of the battle. Their fight without arms against such overwhelming forces aroused the deepest admiration. Norwegians knew right was on their side, but bitter experience had taught them that right ' meant very little without power. BLIND ORGANIST DEATH OF ALFRED HOLLINS LONDON, May 18 The death is announced of Mr. Alfred Hollins, at the age of 76 years. He had been organist and choirmaster at St. George's West, Church of Scotland, Edinburgh, since 1897, and received his early education at schools and colleges for the blind. Always interested from an early age in music, the late Mr. ' Hollins began his public career as a solo pianist at the Crystal Palace con- ' certs, and in 1886 and 1888 visited America for recitals. In 1904 he visited Sydney to give a series of organ re- ■ citals, and then came on to make a tour of New Zealand. Six years ago the ■ late Mr. Hollins was the author of "A Blind Musician Looks Back." ENEMY OVER ENGLAND (Reed. 0.35 p.m.) LONDON, May 18 There was no enemy air activity over Britain on Sunday night. Bombs were dropped on a town on the south-east coast of England early this mornine. Bombs were also dropped on two '.olaces on the south-east coast of England on Sunday morning, says the British official wireless. There were »ome casualties, which included a few ' people killed. Some damage was done.