New Zealand's first ANZAC Day

ABOVE: The New Zealand approach to setting aside the 25th day of April as a “sacred” and “close” industrial public holiday was described by the secretary of that country’s equivalent of the Anzac Day Commemoration Committee, as “treated as a holy day”. This article appeared on page 12 of Brisbane’s “The Telegraph” newspaper of 26 November 1927. This item was contributed by the former Government Printer of New Zealand from 1916 onwards, Marcus Marks of Wellington. His brother, Louis Samuel Marks, resided at New Farm, Brisbane.

Transcript
Observances respecting Anzac Day.
Prime Minister’s Office, Wellington, 5th April, 1916.

“I hereby notify, for public information, that the Government have decided to observe a half-holiday, commencing at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, the 25th April, in commemoration of ‘Anzac Day’, and I shall be glad if the Mayors of all cities and boroughs, the Chairmen of County Councils and Town Boards, as well as other local bodies, as far as their districts are concerned, will similarly observe the day in remembrance of the notable deeds performed by the Australians and our brave New Zealand soldiers on that memorable and historical occasion.
“2. It is specially fitting that on this occasion special services of public worship be held by all religious denominations, and I therefore appeal to all ministers of religion and all congregations to hold such services on behalf of the people of the Dominion at such hours during the forenoon or afternoon as are found convenient.
“3. The New Zealand Ensign will be displayed on all public buildings in the Dominion from sunrise to sunset.
“4. It is requested that the managers and representatives of shipping companies should direct that all ships in the various harbours display their flags during that day.
“5. The Government is of opinion that the day should not be marked by the holding of sports or similar forms of entertainment. It is considered, however, that the occasion is particularly one upon which opportunity should be taken for all recruiting bodies and others to arrange patriotic meetings for the evening, not only to commemorate the anniversary, but also with a view to assisting the recruiting campaign, the question of how this may best be done being left entirely to the discretion of those immediately concerned.”

W.F. MASSEY. [ William Ferguson Massey ]
Prime Minister of New Zealand

– from the “Anzac Day Gazette notice of 5 April 1916” (New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 20 December 2012.

ABOVE: This item appeared on page 7 of “The Maitland Weekly Mercury” (New South Wales) on 20 November 1920.