EMPIRE DAY

Otago Witness, Issue 2985, 31 May 1911, Page 30

EMPIRE DAY

LONDON, May 24. Empire Day was celebrated by the majority of elementary schools in England ' and Wales by saluting the Union Jack. The cadet corps in the public schools paraded. The King received a great number of telegrams from all parts of the world. I The King and Quieen attended tin League of Mercy Empire Day garden party at White Lodge, Richmond. , OTTAWA, May 25. I Empire Day was celebrated in Canada, sports gatherings being the chief attraction. There were several boating fatalities. Four people were drowned at Winnipeg. MELBOURNE, May 25. ' In the course of an Empire Day speech, Mr Deakin declared that there were two alternatives to adopt. One was the creation of a world-wide tribunal to enforce its decrees over all peoples; the other, if that were not possible, was that they must depend upon themselves, at the cost of war, to prevent the Empire tumbling to ruins. Complete efficiency of defence was necessary for their existence. ■ Empire Day was less generally celebrated than usual. Many of the patriotic festivities were postponed till the Coronation. ■ SYDNEY, May 24. j Empire Day was celebrated quietly j here. j In a speech to-day Admiral King-Hall ' spoke of the need of one Imperial navy, ■ of which Australia's portion should be an Imperial division. Hie favoured a local navy rather than a contribution to the British navy. Professor David said that self-sacrifice had made the British Empire what it was.

SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS. Empire Day, the anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria, was not observed in D'umedin orn May 24. A number of offices were closed, and the "-school children enjoyed a holiday, but th© majority of people went about business as usual. I,n the morning- the pupils at several of the schools assembled to hear appropriate addiesses by ministers of religion, members of school committees, and others, after which they were dispersed. Flags were flying on the Town Hall and other building-;, in the city, and floral tributes were placed upon the Queen Victoria Statu© in Lower Hicih street.