EMPIRE DAY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1686, 22 June 1904, Page 22

EMPIRE DAY.

(T'o«the Editor, “New Zealand Mail.”) Sir, —In sending you the enclosed copy of a letter I have l'eceivecl from liis Majesty’s principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, may I request that you will be good enough to draw attention in your columns to the progress which has been made in regard to the .-movement known under the name of “Empire Day,” which has now obtained support in some twenty-five British colonies and dependencies and in numerous schools within and without the United Kingdom. It is hoped that not only will “Empire Day” be celebrated on the 24th May. and that the enclosed hymn (copies of which can he obtained at Id a copy from A. J. SL Maddison, 32, Charing Cross, London) will be sung on that day throughout the Dominions of King Eldward VII., but that greater stress than in the past will in future be laid in all schools on the training of children in regard to the duties and responsibilities attaching to British citizenship and on the necessity of the King-Emperor being more fully acquainted with such knowledge as may tend to draw closer together the 400 millions of people who owe a common allegiance to. the Sovereign of the British Empire. —I am, Sir, your obedient servant, MEATH. 88 Lancaster Gate, London, W Bth April, 1904. (Copt) Bear Lord Meath—The Empire Day correspondence up to the Ist ult. which, you enclosed shows the considerable progress of the movement. I observe that the Education Committee of five Ehglish County Councils and of four boroughs have undertaken that the. 24th; May shall he kept as “Empire Day” in the schools under their control. This shows that the idea is now making progress at Home as it already has do™ in tio colomea J CO HS ra bat a< ! Snk tte M Lao hardlj; Sri?'ed whin iM Colonial Secretary* arrivea - make a speech upon the could pi oper Chamberlain, white Empathising with the pn>P<?Bal whue symy . take any decided ™ a day had been generally SblShed in Great Britain I ha 4 al ready written assuring you of my sympathy y Jd this is, I think, as far as it will be well for me to go at present —Believe me, yours very truly, ALFRED LYTTELTON. Colonial Oflioe 22nd, March, 190&