EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATION

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1934, Page 10

EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATION

SCHOOL CHILDREN SALUTE FLAG. GATHERING AT PUKEKURA PARK. To celebrate Empire Day, the birthday of Queen Victoria, more than 100 school children gathered at the Pukekura Park band rotunda yesterday afternoon and were addressed by the Rev. Stanley Jenkin. A representative placed a wreath at the foot of the memorial and the children saluted the Union Jack. The ceremony was arranged by Mesdames C. H. Burgess and T. C. List, president of the Victoria League, in collaboration with other members of the league and headmasters of New Plymouth primary schools. • . , “I feel proud to associate with you in this celebration of Empire Day,” said the Rev. Jenkins, in addressing the children. “For years we have remembered May 24 as the birthday of Victoria the Good. Recently it has been known as Empire Day. . As a newcomer to New Plymouth I am interested and glad to learn Of the work done by the Victoria League and the schools in perpetuating the memory of the day.” All were proud of their nation and its flag, said Mr. Jenkin, and it did one good to salute it. “Remember,” he said, “that : love of country and pride of the flag and the Empire lies not in thinking of it : occasionally, in feeling emotion at salut- ] ing the flag occasionally. It must go 1 deeper than that. The nation-builders . of the past were not content with mere ; sentiment. If you children grow up to : take your places in the ranks of Empire 1 builders your sentiments must be rooted in goodness, righteousness and fear of 1 God.” 1 The foundations of Empire were broad-

based, and wherever the Englishman or |. the Briton went he was looked on as a H man of unstained honour and a man of p high principle. “Live and labour so as : to deserve the name of a British subject,” ’ said the speaker. “If you are going to < maintain the proud traditions of our 1 Empire you must live cleanly. If you do that, when you grow up men and women < will be able to point to you and say, 1 ‘They are working to carry on the tradi- 1 tions of our nation.’ ” Under the direction of Mr. W. A. j:

Brown, headmaster of the West End school, the children turned and saluted the Union Jack. Muriel Lister, a pupil, accompanied by Mrs. T. C. List, laid a wreath composed of autumn leaves, tinted to gorgeous colours, at the base of the Queen Victoria monument. Mr. Brown, before dismissing the children, who represented most of the schools of New Plymouth, briefly thanked Mrs. Burgess, Mrs. List and other members of the Victoria League for ar- < ranging the gathering.