ANZAC OBSERVANCE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18920, 23 January 1936, Page 3

ANZAC OBSERVANCE

SCREENING OF PICTURES DECISION IN DUNEDIN R.S.A. PROTEST Strong exception is taken by returned soldiers to a decision of the Dunedin City Council to permit picture entertainments on Anzac Day from 8.15 p.m. A resolution to this effect, was carried by the council by six votes to throe. " Not only is it disgusting, but galling lo one born and bred in Dunedin who has had the privilege of serving with the Ofngo Regiment to find the City Council attempting to shoot holes in a piece of legislation that the people of this Dominion thought dignified and appropriate in 1920 when, incidentally, their homes and businesses had just 'been saved from possible incursions of the enemy," declared one of several returned soldiers in Dunedin when commenting 071 the council's decision. "Here are the country's sentiments as couched in the Anzac Day Act itself: 'ln com memoration of the par! taken by (he New Zealand troops in the Great Wai and in memory of those who gave their lives for the Empire the 25]h day of April in each year (being the anniversary of the first landing of the English, Australian ami New Zea land troops on Gallipoli) shall be known as Anzac Day and shall lie observed throughout New Zealand in all respects ,as if Anzac Day were a Sunday.' " OBSERVANCE OF STATUTE "If New Zealand's birthday as a nation is to be commemorated on April 2:5, then let it be fittingly adhered to or otherwise totally repeal (lie Statute," said another ex-service-man. Either the Statute must be observed with dignity and faith, or a sense of propriety suggested, that it should not he held in a manner which was only temporising with it. "There is Joo much hypocrisy in connection with Anzac Day," he added. "Either the community should see that the Act is observed as passed. or else it should he deleted from the Statute Rook. To adopt half-way men svtres of holding the celebrations on the nearest .Sunday or of turning the occasion into a secular day by permitting picture programmes to lie shown is neither a sincere tribute to the Di,Ono men who fell in the war. nor is it a proper observance of the law. "It is certainly a hypocritical ad of the Dunedin City Council to support legislation of which it must, or should be, aware And at the same time tr grant permits for picture programme.which it is hoped it would not gran! for an ordinary Sunday evening." tin speaker concluded. "ROBBED OF DIGNITY" The explanation of another person approached on the subject was that the City Council apparently disagreed with the Statute according to which Anzac Day should continue to be regarded as a Sunday. Therefore, if i! did not agree with the spirit of Anzac Day as constituted at. present the council should go the right way about its business and- have the Statute amended. "The council's backdooi methods of procedure rob Anzac Day of its dignity," it was said. In refusing to make tiny statement on the matter, the president of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association, Mr A. Thomas, stated that in all probability it would lie fully discussed .at the first executive meeting next Tuesdays night.