A VETERANS’ FLAG

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 96, 26 April 1933, Page 6

A VETERANS’ FLAG

EMBLEM HANDED DOWN ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER ••It is my privilege, as the !a< ' surviving member of the .Maori Wai \ eterans resident in Wanganui, to hand you this flag, the emblem of free ‘lorn, loyalty, patriotism and justice,” said Veteran W. Hudson Davis, in making a formal presentation of an ancient flag to Mr. W. H. Cannon, president of the Wanganui Empire Veterans’ Association, at the Anzae Ceremony on Cook’s Gardens yesterday. “May your comrades of the' Empire Veterans’ Association accept it as a link binding past traditions with the present, and also as a reminder of the present-day peaceful and happy relationship of the great Maori people with their pakeha brethren where, formerly, in the days of our campaign, existed hostility and distrust towards us. “Preserve and keep :!»■> flag as a ioken of goodwill from the older veterans and that you will not forget the part they played for King and country in the hour of peril. Tena koutou. tena koutou and kia ora!” Accepting the flag on behalf of the Veterans’ Association, Mr. Cannan said that they would bo proud tn treasure it. He did not know how old it was. but knew that it had an interesting history and was associated with the original ->ii War Veterans’ Association which commenced in 1864.