ANZAC DAY CEREMONIAL.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVI, Issue 125, 25 July 1938, Page 2

ANZAC DAY CEREMONIAL.

[To the Editor]

Sir, —I was very surprised to see, in your report of the annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Peter’s Church, that a resolution was carried that the meeting “Remind the R.S.A.” that religious services have been abandoned in Waipawa on Anzac Day. This is not strictly correct, as I am aware that Anzac Day Day services are held every year in St. Patrick’s Church, and a prominent parishioner of St. Peter’s is usually to be seen there, in the absence of services in his own.

But, why “remind the R.S.A.”T If the executive of the R.S.A. were neglecting their work of investigating and pressing the just claims of war pensioners, would a gathering of returned men “remind” the parishioners of St. Peter’s about it, or would they remind their own executive? But now let me remind the parishioners of some of (he past history of the celebration of Anzac Day in Waipawa. In the period when Canon Butterfield was vicar of St. Peter’s, he held regularly a special Anzac Day service in his church immediately after the R.S.A. ceremonial, and services were also held in St. John’s and St. Patrick’s churches. The returned soldiers’ parade was led by the hand through High street and Kenilworth street, and the various sections marched to their respective churches in a body. I myself never missed one of these services at St. Peter’s, and I was, like many other returned men, very disappointed when they were abandoned. A reference to the files of your own paper, Sir, will prove the correctness of my statements. The R.S.A., however, could do nothing about it, because the action or inaction of the church authorities had nothing to do with it as an Association, hut I would “remind” the public that the R.S.A. have been faithful to what did concern them, namely, the holding of a partly military, partly civilian ceremonial in honor of their comrades and of the birthday of their country as a nation.

I have heard a suggestion that a combined service of three of the Waipawa churches should he held in future in one of these churches. Speaking personally, I hope this will he given effect to, and if so, I am perfectly sure that the R.S.A. will he prepared to co-operate, as they did in the past, and that very few of the “diggers” will fall out short of the church door. —I am, etc., H. T. LIMBRIOK, President, Waipawa and District Returned Soldiers’ Association. Waipawa, July 25th, 1938.