IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8185, 17 July 1906, Page 3

IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

Empire Day is now an institution; such a one indeed that the British statist glories in presenting the figures in tabulated form to convince his countrymen that it is tbe cbiaf Imperial ;anuivoraary. Everywhere in the Empire ic was celebrated last May 24th though not always by the popular name, and au effort is to be made to reotify tbis for J9o'/. Tbo Earl of Meath who was responsible for toe "holiday" in the first place puolisbes his first leview of it, ana in tbis it is shown what a strong imperial feeling has been brought into being by tbe institution. Of course the real founder of the Day is hardly any particular individual, as much as been made of Queen Victoria as the first Imperial British Sovereign, and then if we go back to first causes we shall find that a good deal of the credit rests with tho South African war. This will remind many that one authority wrote at the time—"Mr Kruger has united the British Empire," words the significance of which was not as apparent then as now. FerhaDs one of tbe chief creators of Empire Day was tbe Jate Mr Sed3on, to whom unquestionably is due tbe inspiration of a vivid antipodean sentiment towards tbe Motherland in her extremity. His action at a certain time fanned the flame, and this running like an electric current through the race provided the right men in tbe right place in England with tbe opportunity of a century. Lord Meath was one of tbese men, Mr Chamberlain another and so suoh action ooourring as was prompted by the occasion the Empire came together as a single nation with one feeling and one purpose. The Earl of Meath especially has great reason to be proud of his work in Ibis connection, for like a good husbandman be was hss conoerued in tbe results of a phenomenal season than in so preparing the ground that such results would be permanent season by season. Thus he aimed at tbe schools where the seeds of Imperial thought and learning have been sown to such splendid purpose as to make our one Imperial Day a permanent institution.