“APPROPRIATE SPIRIT ”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26781, 26 May 1948, Page 4

“APPROPRIATE SPIRIT ”

COMMEMORATION OF ANZAC DAY SUGGESTIONS BY R.S.A. Several recommendations “ to make the commemoration of Anac Day more appropriate," put forward by the general committee, were app'roved by the Dunedin Returned Services’ Association's executive last night. The president, Mr A. J, H. Jeavons. was in the chair Moving the adoption of the recommendations, the chairman of the committee, Mr D. L. Wood, said that although his committee was against the glorification of war, it felt that special endeavours should be made to retain the spirit of Anzac Day which was tending to degenerate into a semiholiday. To that end the suggestions should be put into effect. The recommendations included the provision of a fuller parade, to be divided into uniformed groups where possible, each group to carry appropriate banners. Other proposals were:— That executive members speaking at reunions and similar functions should emphasise the necessity for the preservation of the Anzac spirit; that a suitable circular be sent to public and other bodies involved, and a circular to reunion and similar committees, stressing the duty of returned servicemen to the public by making the parade a unit responsibility; that an endeavour be made to ensure that ribbons are available for returned servicemen wishing to parade and that the issue of medals be urged; that arrangements should always be. made for the provision of a loudspeaker at the Cenotaph for the Anzac Day service- that the idea adopted in other centres of placing crosses, with a poppy attached, and bearing the name of individual deceased servicemen in a suitable plot be approved. Unanimous approval was given by the executive to these proposals.