MEANING OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7915, 26 September 1911, Page 6

MEANING OF THE DAY

INDICATION OP NEW ZEALAND'S INDIVIDUALITY. PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS TO SCHOLARS. The celebrations at the Terrace school were increased in interest by a visit from the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, who addressed tiie assembled scholars on the meaning and purposes of Dominion Day. Sir Joseph was mot on arrival at the school by- tho headmaster, Mr G. MacMorran, the chairman of the committee, the Rev. W. J. Comrie, tho following-committeemen; the Rev. Van Stavereu, Messrs Mallard, Thomson, Geddes, Lloy-d and Gold, and tho member for the district, Mr A. L. Herdman. For lack of sufficient space in the playground the children were massed iu tho roadway opposite the school, the school cadet corps being drawn np "under the command of Captains Erskino and Hutton- ' Tn instroducing the Prime Minister to the children the Rev. Mr Comrie said that tho school should feel highly honoured by a visit from Sir Joseph "Ward, who had come at great personal inconvenience owing to tho pressure of hie other work. SIR JOSEPH "WARD'S BELIEF. The Prime Minister said he had very great pleasure in acceding to tho request of the committee to speak to the children, because he believed that the feelings of loyalty and patriotism now- manifested would become ■ more accentuated as the years passed through the medium of the scholars of Ihe present day. There might be a few people in New Zealand who regarded the celebration of Dominsion Day as something in tho nature of a mere show rather than as of practical < value. He, for one, looker! at it from 'the practical standpoint entirely. There was evidence in one of the most powerful countries in tho w-orld, the United States of America, of what , could ho done to impress on the rising generation a sense of profound attachment to their country, of pride in the flag, of a spirit of active and practical patriotism. The United States had done more in this respect than had been done anywhere else. This had been accomplished by the Independence Day celebrations, which had inculcated a spirit of active and practical loyalty that could have been secured by no, other process. One of tho things that struck him most in the United States was the extraordinary, almost boundless, attachment of the men and women there, and the younger folks, too, to their own country-. They oelicred that the United States was worth being proud of. J THE PRACTICAL OUTCOME. To his mind the chief merit of the creation of Dominion Day for this country, was its practical outcome, in that it could be made to impress upon the boys and girls in the schools a realisation that they lived in a country of which they had great reason to bo proud. New Zealand was still a very young country and did not possess any of those lino traditions found in tho Motherland, but her territory was most productive and her people lived under the most free conditions in tho world. He was ( convinced that the underlying desire was to create a spirit of loyalty and patriotism to New Zealand itself, not anything in the shape of braggadocio or excess of pride. It was a feeling that, as far as we were concerned, New Zealand was the best country in tho world. When the flag was sainted on Dominion Day it was with a recognition that it had lifted New Zealand out of the category of Crown colonies, among which wore some whose as sociations were not of the pleasantest. "A GOOD THING." While some people might not regard the institution of Dominion Day as of any . particular moment, ho believed firmly that it was a good thing for this country to bo lifted into a position of individuality. There was the Dominion of Canada, tho Commonwealth of Australia, the Union of South Africa, each with its own individuality, aud tho Dominion of New Zealand was now in the same position. That was the meaning of Dominion Day. It was celebrated not for sentimental purposes, but to inculcate a feeling of patriotism and loyalty. He was convinced it would do an immense amount of good in this respect. The children here now had a great deal to be thankful for. They t lived in a country which possessed natural advantages few could equal aud fewer still could surpass. Two members of the House of Representatives owed their education to the Terrace school, and it was impossible to say what present day scholars might not attain to later on. He was particularly pleased to see the cadets assembled, and pointed out that one of tho fine things being accomplished in New Zealand was the cultivation of a laudable desire among the people to make ready to defend themselves. The last thing any- responsible man would do _ would be to seek to instil into the minds of young people a desire to fight but it was a vorv valuable and laudable thing to make preparations to meet what might become inevitable. It was a great and good thing. As the Prime Minister concluded his speech the flag was hoisted on the school staff, the cadets saluted and the scholars sang "God Save the King.” At the call j of Sir Joseph hearty cheers were given] for the flag, with another round for the

Prime Alinistor at the call of the Rev. Comrie. Before leaving Sir Joseph inspected the cadet corps and complimented the boys upon their smart appearance.