A SILENT TRIBUTE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1790, 8 November 1919, Page 8

A SILENT TRIBUTE.

i > TO OUR GLORIOUS DEAD. MESSAGE FROM THE KING. ANNIVERSARY OF ARMISTICE. Press Association. WELLINGTON, November 7. The following message from the King has been received by the Governor-General:— " * To all my people— Tuesday next, November 11, is the first anniversary of the Armistice which stayed the worldwide carnage of the four preceding years, and marked the -victory of right and freedom. I believe my people in every part of the Empire fervently wish to perpetuate the memory of that great deliverance, and of those who laid down their lives to achieve it. To afford an opportunity for universal expression of this feeling, it. is my desire and hope that at the hour when the Armistice came into force—the eleventh hoar, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month—there may be for a brief space of two minutes, a complete suspension of all our normal activities. During that time, except in rare cases, where this may be impracticable, all work, all sound, and all locomotion, should cease, so that in; perfect stillness the thoughts of everyone may \be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead. No elaborate organisation ap-. pears to be necessary. At a given signal, which can easily J>e arranged to suit the circumstances of each locality, I believe we shall all gladly interrupt our business and pleasure, whatever it may be, and unite in this simple service of silence and remembrance. Signed, GEORGE R. AND I. The Prime Minister stated this - evening that arrangements would be put in hand to secure, as far as possible, the general observance throughout the Dominion of two minutes' silence on Tuesday next. The trains would be stopped on the railways, a request would be made that there should be a cessation of traffic on the streets, and every effort would be made to have work suspended in the schools, shops, and factories, so as to secure complete silence. This procedure would conform with "What was intended to be done in the United Kingdom, and the Prime Minister said he was quite sure that there would be a ready . acquiescence in the desire of his Majesty on the part of the citizens of New Zealand, as well as in other parts of the Empire.