EMPIRE DAY

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 24 May 1923, Page 7

EMPIRE DAY

AUCKLAND, Wednesday. May 24, the birthday of the late Queen Victoria, was during her long reign the occasion for great celebrations at Home and in the Colonies—as the various States and Dominions were then known. On the death of Queen Victoria May 24 was officially proclaimed as Empire Day, and the messages from King George and Queen Mary received by Lord Jellicoe yesterday, typify the spirit and meaning of the name.

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR GENERAL has received the following message, which then Majesties the Ring and Queen have been graciously pleased to address to the children in the elementary schools of the Empire on Empire Day, May 24: King’s Message to the Children in the ... Elementary Schools of the Empire:

On this day my people in all parts of the world join to celebrate - their unity, and to draw closer the common ties which hold them together. Each of our many peoples has its own lile to live; each has its own work to do, yet all are members of the one family, sharing their sorrows and

joys. . You have learned how the Empire was built ,up by brave and wise men and women in the past. It is only by courage, wisdom and unselfishness that it will‘endure. T.t is a great mheritance. Your fathers and forefathers made it. Its future welfare and good name are under the Providence of God in your hands. Do not think of it as a thing far away from you. Every one of you counts, and ivhat you do and learn now will decide how far you -will he able to play your part worthily when you grow up. Get knowledge, be brave, honourable and kind, thinking of others before yourself and always play the game. So will you fit yourselves to hand c(pwn this community of free nations to your children and grand-children, as a great instrument for justice, peace and goodwill, which will deserve the respect and esteem of mankind. Queen’s Message to the Girls in the Blementary Sclioils of the Empire: On this day of memory and hope, which is also the birthday of Good Queen Victoria this is my message to you daughters of our world-wide family

MESSAGE TO THE NATION

His Majesty’s Words of Wisdom.

WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD. Far as the breeze can bear, the billows foam, Survey our Empire, and behold our home! , —Byron. PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM

of nations and peoples: Think always of what you can do to make your homes happy, and how you can best prepare yourselves to make happy homes for the generations of children which will follow you in our vast Empire. There are many kinds of homes and many different customs. Tho home which fosters clean minds and kind hearts is God’s temple and the spirit of a good: home,' whether it be rich or poor, is one of the best things in the world. Tou can learn many lessons at schoolwhich will help you to become wise and useful citizens of the British Commonwealth, but you can learn and practise nothing better for yourselves, aud all the members of the great family, than the-simple lessons of love, kindness and unselfishness, which iri cloud or sunshine are the strength and beauty of life.

Mr Massey’s Message Home: Empire Day is being celebrated _in London in a manner which will bring the occasion prominently before the people of the capital.' The great daily newspapers are taking a prominent part. The “Daily Express,” which is holding a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, cabled Mr Massey for a message for presentation to the people of Britain, and Mr Massey to-day despatched the following cable: “Empire Day stands predominant as a reminder of the kinship which binds the Dominions to each other and to tho Motherland. Freedom of thought, speech and action illustriously won generations ago by our ancestors, are the laurels which the citizens of today share, and under which they live. New Zealand, as the Young Britain of South Seas, feels the power which her allegiance to 'a great Empire gives. She stands stronger to-day than ever before in her whole-hearted determination to shoulder her responsibilities for the protection of the Crown, and the rights and liberties of the Empire. New Zealand knows it is Britain’s aim always to see that the crowning achievement, the peace of the world, is maintained. Working steadily and .tenaciously for the preservation of that, and for the principles under which it was secured, New Zealand asks her citizens to be unwavering in their loyalty to King and,Empire, which is the only guarantee for our heritage. Millions of our fellow-citizens have held their lives as naught in sigiving for the good of humanity, for righteousness and for freedom, and it is plainly the duty of the British peoples throughout the Empire to see that the sacrifice made,-not only in recent years but through the centuries, for the good of all were not made- in vain.’*