The Pahiatua Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1936. AN INTERESTING CONTROVERSY

Pahiatua Herald, 29 September 1936, Page 4

The Pahiatua Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1936. AN INTERESTING CONTROVERSY

The playing of the National Anthem prior to the screening of a picture, the opening of a concert or the beginning of a public dinner is always observed by the company standing; since the advent of the talkie film 1 1 is not uncommon to hear the strains of the National Anthem reproduced during the screening of a picture, and what happens then ? As an example of this let us tak,e the newsreel of the Vimy Ridge Memorial when screened recently in a London theatre. When “God Save the King” was played as part of the ceremony a few people at once rose to their feet, and others hesitantly followed. The majority however remained seated, stared at the while by those standing. Quite a controversy arose as a result of this, and in subsequent issues' of .London, papers there were very definite rulings regarding what is expected of picture show audiences. “The audience ifi a cinema,” says a Buckingham Palace official, “is not participating in the ceremony being shown on the screen. Therefore, it is unnecessary to stand. £n such circumstances the audience is no part of the ceremony.” The view expressed by the War Office and Air Ministry is:—“A soldier or R.A.F. man is not expected to stand to attention where the National Anthem is played as part of a performance, but he must do so—like any other self-respecting member of the community—when it is played as a tribute to the King at the beginning or end of a programme.” These pronouncements have, in the way of finality, the endorsement of the Lord Chamberlain, who adds:—“lt is not disloyal to remain seated.”